Philanthrophy as Witness Investing in the Leaders We Need

by Rev. Cara Stultz Costello, UMHEF President & CEO

In every generation, a quiet question lives beneath the surface of our common life: Who will lead us next and how will they be formed?

For people of faith, this is not an abstract concern. It is deeply personal. We see it in the lives of students discerning their paths; seeking not only education, but purpose. We see it in those who feel called to serve in the many places where hope is cultivated day by day.

And we also know that the path toward that calling is not always easy.

The cost of higher education continues to stretch what is possible for many. Even with meaningful forms of support, there remains a gap between a student’s sense of calling and their ability to pursue it freely. It is in this space – between calling and constraint – that something deeply theological emerges.

Philanthropy, for people of faith, is not simply a response to need. It is a witness.

When we invest in students, we are making a claim about the kind of world we believe is possible. We are saying that leadership matters – not only in terms of achievement, but in terms of character, compassion, and commitment to the common good.

This is especially true within our United Methodist-related colleges, universities, and seminaries. These institutions carry a vision of education that is both rigorous and deeply rooted in purpose.

Many students who are drawn to our United Methodist communities of learning bring with them remarkable resilience and a deep desire to contribute to the world around them. They are not defined by financial constraints or systemic challenges, though they may navigate them. These students bear gifts that are shaping the Church and the world.

At the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation, we have the privilege of walking alongside these students. Through scholarships, we do more with your gifts than help make education possible – we participate in the formation of leaders whose impact will extend far beyond any single classroom or campus.

Philanthropy is a tether. Gifts connect God’s beloved to one another. Gifts given enable those who have been formed to take part in the formation of others.

The question before us, then, is not simply how education will be funded, but how we will respond to those who are stepping forward with courage and calling. Will we recognize in them the leaders they are becoming?

Because when we do, we are not simply supporting education. We are bearing witness to the kind of world, we believe God is still bringing into being.