Donor Recognition

Recognizing builders of confidence and a better world.

Donors serve as a goodwill ambassador for the university, and we hope you will encourage classmates and friends to join you as you create and expand exceptional educational opportunities for all LR students.

Giving Societies

Your support of Lenoir-Rhyne students allows the university to provide a world-class education and teach the skills needed to face and overcome life’s challenges with confidence.

  • Founders Society

    Established in 1995 to honor Lenoir-Rhyne’s most generous alumni and friends

    The Founders Society was established to honor donors whose generosity supports its educational mission. Those donors who have made cumulative gifts of $25,000 and more to Lenoir-Rhyne University are honored as members of the Founders Society. The university celebrates the generosity of these donors at an annual event, honoring all members from the previous fiscal year. Donors to Lenoir-Rhyne University are recognized for all gifts made since 1960, to build on this historic legacy by supporting students, faculty and programs that make Lenoir-Rhyne the extraordinary institution it is today.

    • Centurion members of the Founders Society are donors whose cumulative giving meets or exceeds $100,000.
    • Distinguished members of the Founders Society are donors whose cumulative giving meets or exceeds $1,000,000.
  • 1891 Heritage Society

    Recognizes planned gifts 

    The 1891 Heritage Society honors alumni, parents and friends who have demonstrated their commitment to Lenoir-Rhyne’s future by including the university in their estate plans and have provided documentation of their bequest intentions and/or planned gifts to Lenoir-Rhyne. We celebrate these individuals annually at the Founders event.

  • President's Society

    Recognizes leadership giving to Lenoir-Rhyne with gifts of $1,500 and more annually

    The President’s Society, established in 1972, recognizes individual, corporate and foundation donors who have made leadership gifts or pledges to the university. Gifts may be made any time during the calendar year. President’s Society members are celebrated annually at leadership donor events and receive access to reserved parking for home football games.

    • Faculty and staff recognition - $750 and above
    • Recent alumni recognition
      • Alumni who graduated 0-10 years ago, $100 and above
  • Business Council

    Recognizes businesses, corporations and foundations that believe in the mission of LR and contribute $1,500 and more annually

    Established in 1983, Lenoir-Rhyne’s Business Council includes area businesses, industries and educational organizations, who work alongside the university to enhance the quality of life in the region, and provide mutually beneficial opportunities for all groups to prosper.

    Business Council members receive access to reserved parking for home football games.

  • Loyal Bears Society

    Established in 2018 to recognize consecutive year donors

    The Loyal Bears Society was created to honor and celebrate donors who have made a gift — of any amount, to any area on campus — for at least three consecutive years. Qualification for recognition is established upon the third year of consecutive fiscal-year giving, or immediately after committing to a recurring gift for at least three years by establishing a multi-year pledge.

    Loyal Bears receive a Loyal Bear magnet upon joining the society.

Walk of Honor

Bricks on walkway with names of donors

A personalized brick on campus

The Walk of Honor path begins at The Charge across from Shuford Memorial Gymnasium and extends toward the statue of Martin Luther and Grace Chapel. Bricks are 4 inches high by 8 inches long and can fit up to two lines of text with 15 characters each. They are typically installed once a year before Homecoming, when ordered before July 15.

Engraved bricks are $250. Alumni within one year of graduation may purchase a brick for the Walk of Honor for a special rate of $150.

Order a Personalized Brick