MARSHALL, Texas – The Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church has made the first major gift to Wiley University’s $5 Million UNCF Endowment Match Campaign. The Conference presented a $255,150 check to President and CEO Herman J. Felton, Jr., during his State of the University address on Friday, October 23, as part of Homecoming 2026.
The gift launches the University’s effort to raise $5 million, which UNCF will match dollar for dollar through its Endowment Match Program. Every gift to the campaign will be doubled, so donors’ generosity will have twice the impact on Wiley University’s long-term strength and its students’ futures.
“When we needed someone to step forward first, the Texas Annual Conference didn’t hesitate,” said President Felton. “Under the leadership of Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, they made Wiley University a priority, and their members, from congregations to individual believers, answered the call. Their gift is more than a contribution. It is a statement of faith in our students and a challenge to every organization and individual who loves this University to join them. For more than 150 years, The United Methodist Church has been the cornerstone of Wiley, and once again they have shown us what it means to stand with us. We are deeply grateful, and we are humbled by their belief in what our students can become.”
The Conference’s generosity reflects an enduring partnership rooted in faith, education, and service. Founded in 1873 by the Freedmen’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Wiley University remains proudly affiliated with The United Methodist Church and is grateful to the churches, pastors, and members who continue to invest in its future.
Alumni, friends, churches, and partners are invited to build on this momentum by contributing to the campaign. To learn more and give, visit www.wileyc.edu/give and select “$5 Million UNCF Endowment Match Campaign” under Donation Designation.
For more information or media inquiries, please contact Catherine G. Sellers, Executive Director of Marketing, Communications, and Brand Management, at communications@wileyc.edu.
About Wiley University:
Wiley University, formerly known as Wiley College, is a premier liberal arts institution related to the United Methodist Church. The university is dedicated to fostering social good and developing leaders who make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
