Florida A&M University (FAMU) administrators provided updates on finances, academic progress, and alumni achievements at the Board of Trustees meeting held on December 4. The session addressed the impact of changing philanthropic trends and highlighted ongoing initiatives to support students and faculty.
Brandi Tatum-Fedrick, acting vice president for university advancement, reported that fundraising is about $1.1 million behind last year’s pace. She attributed this primarily to a decline in corporate and foundation donations, which reflects national patterns. “As of today, we are approximately $1.1 million behind where we stood at this point last year,” Tatum-Fedrick said. “While this shortfall is important to acknowledge, we remain optimistic but cautious, given the current economic pressures.”
Despite the decrease in larger gifts from organizations, she noted increased participation from alumni and individual donors, though average gift amounts are slightly lower than before. “We have made up ground in the organizational giving category, showing that momentum is building in other areas,” she said. “Our donor base is more engaged, and our development capacity is stronger than ever.” Tatum-Fedrick also mentioned several reasons for optimism: multiple large proposals are pending; four verbal six-figure commitments have been received for the Marching “100”; fifteen additional six-figure proposals are being considered across university divisions; and alumni participation continues to rise.
Tatum-Fedrick explained that FAMU plans to increase outreach efforts toward corporations and foundations while expanding major-gift initiatives among alumni. She added that donor engagement remains above pre-2020 levels despite national shifts in giving patterns. The university raised $67,455 during Giving Tuesday—the highest total for this campaign in four years.
Provost Allyson Watson discussed priorities related to academics and student success. Her report emphasized retention strategies, faculty development, workforce-aligned degree programs, instructional innovation across colleges, and accreditation readiness as key areas of focus for FAMU’s academic operations.
“Our goal is to ensure FAMU students have the academic preparation, faculty support and experiential learning opportunities needed to thrive from day one,” Watson said.
Watson stressed that maintaining strong academic programs helps attract both students and external partners: “Academic excellence is foundational to everything we do,” she said. “It drives enrollment, strengthens our reputation and reinforces our value proposition to donors and stakeholders.”
President Marva B. Johnson commended transparency during institutional updates while urging adaptability amid changes affecting philanthropy nationwide: “We are navigating a different landscape than we were even two or three years ago,” Johnson said. She reiterated FAMU’s strategic pillars—student success, resource stewardship, institutional stability and external engagement—and called for continued collaboration with trustees: “Your partnership is critical as we move into this next chapter.”
The meeting featured a Mission Moment spotlighting Keyona Williams—a fourth-year criminal justice student who served as a military veteran and law enforcement officer before transferring to FAMU from Tallahassee. Williams described how campus organizations helped her find community: “I chose law enforcement because I wanted young men and women who looked like me to see integrity and action,” she told trustees.
Williams asked the board to consider more resources for non-traditional students like herself: “Students like me belong here too… I ask the Board to consider creating more intentional spaces and flexible opportunities for non-traditional students.”
Alumni recognitions included Curtis Johnson receiving the Chairman’s Award for leadership of the National Alumni Association. Board Chair Deveron Gibbons presented him with an award citation noting his service: “In recognition for your outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to Florida A&M University.” Johnson thanked colleagues who supported his administration’s efforts raising funds for student support at FAMU.
Additional honorees included Tony Ezell (who participated remotely), with future recognitions planned for John Thompson and Roy Moore.
