Every Giving Tuesday, hundreds of alumni and students celebrate how Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) is equipping students to fulfill God’s mission around the world.
This Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30, was no different, with SEBTS celebrating an 18% increase in giving from the previous year.
The institution raised over $339,599.84 from 513 donors, which includes the gifts matched by donors throughout Giving Tuesday. Every dollar raised supports the Southeastern Fund, which assists in operational costs, helps lower tuition for students and increases each student’s ability to pursue their ministry calling at an affordable cost. The money raised from Giving Tuesday also goes toward SEBTS’s greater fundraising efforts in its For the Mission campaign.
“The Giving Tuesday initiative is a great opportunity for our friends and supporters to gather together to give to help our students fulfill the mission.”
Jonathan Six
In the 2020-21 academic year, gifts to the Southeastern Fund reduced tuition costs by $700 for each full-time student.
“I’m really thankful for all the alumni and friends who gave on Giving Tuesday,” said Jonathan Six, director of financial and alumni development at SEBTS. “The Giving Tuesday initiative is a great opportunity for our friends and supporters to gather together to give to help our students fulfill the mission.”
SEBTS staff made phone calls to alumni and donors and brought awareness to current on-campus and distance learning students via social media and email marketing. SEBTS faculty and staff even had a little friendly competition in the process with a footrace after chapel to celebrate reaching 100 donors, with Dr. Drew Ham, associate vice president of student life, winning the race.
The Lord has been extremely gracious to SEBTS as the school has experienced both record enrollment and its strongest year of giving. Along with these milestones, SEBTS continues to exceed 5,000 students and has raised 32% more in 2021-21 than the prior fiscal year. This amount is 22% higher than the highest year of giving in the school’s history.
SEBTS considers each gift invaluable to its mission to see students equipped to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. Gifts to the annual fund are accepted year-round. To give to the Southeastern Fund, click here.
(EDITOR’S NOTE – Lauren Pratt is news and information specialist with SEBTS.)
