The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, partnering with the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, hosted a three-day workshop on 'Endowment Fund Management and Alumni Engagement' from December 3-5, 2025, at the Hilton Hotel. The event brought together leaders from Ethiopia's ten first-generation research universities to discuss practical strategies for sustainable alumni giving programs and endowment funds. Fulbright Specialists Dr. Ty Ropp and Dr. Walter McCollum provided expert guidance on endowment development and alumni relations to support university growth.
This workshop, supported by the U.S. Department of State's Fulbright Specialist Program, aims to strengthen sustainable funding and engagement in Ethiopia's higher education institutions. Organized jointly by the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa and the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (EAS), it took place at the Hilton Hotel from December 3 to 5, 2025.
Fulbright Specialists Dr. Ty Ropp, Vice President of Development at the Oklahoma State University Foundation, and Dr. Walter McCollum, President and Chair of the Fulbright Association, led sessions focused on the links between endowment development and alumni relations to promote long-term university sustainability. Participants received expert advice on alumni communication strategies, donor stewardship and recognition, alumni giving programs, university fundraising, endowments, and endowment management.
Additionally, attendees participated in interactive fireside chats, design thinking exercises to create customized alumni giving programs, and discussions on policy frameworks for endowments in Ethiopian universities. The initiative represents a vital step toward enhancing enduring support for Ethiopia's academic sector, particularly through alumni networks and financial endowments.