The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, in partnership with the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (EAS) and with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Specialist Program, hosted a three-day workshop on “Endowment Fund Management and Alumni Engagement” from December 3–5, 2025, at the Hilton Hotel. The event convened leaders from Ethiopia’s ten first-generation research universities to share practical strategies for building sustainable alumni giving programs and endowment funds—key pillars supporting Ethiopia’s higher education institutions.
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 on the intersection of endowment development and alumni relations to foster sustainable university growth.
The workshop offered expert guidance on alumni communication strategies, donor stewardship and recognition, alumni giving programs, university fundraising and endowments, and endowment management. Participants engaged in interactive fireside chats, design thinking exercises to develop tailored alumni giving programs, and discussions on endowment policy frameworks for Ethiopian universities. (Press Release)
