Gwynedd Mercy University Raises $35.3M for Mercy in Motion Campaign, Surpassing Initial Goal by $10M

Campaign supports student scholarships, healthcare innovation, and GMercyU’s mercy mission

GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gwynedd Mercy University’s Mercy in Motion comprehensive campaign raised more than $35.3 million, surpassing its initial $25 million goal with the support of nearly 2,200 donors.

Alumni, donors, and board members gathered to celebrate the campaign’s impact. The event culminated with GMercyU's mascot and students helping Charlotte O. McKines, Chair of GMercyU’s Board of Trustees, announce publicly for the first time the final amount raised in the campaign.

The campaign, launched in January 2022, was designed to expand access to a Mercy education and propel GMercyU toward its vision of becoming the Catholic university leader in professional and healthcare education. It centered on three priorities: fueling healthcare innovation, investing in student success through donor-funded scholarships, and sustaining the University’s mission through annual and planned gifts that support faculty development, student life, and academic and athletic programs.

“The Mercy in Motion Campaign has transformed what is possible for our students,” said Gwynedd Mercy University President Deanne H. D’Emilio, JD. “This campaign opens new doors for students to pursue in-demand careers, and benefit from the hands-on, values-driven learning that sets GMercyU apart. It is an investment in our students, their futures, and the communities they will go on to serve.”

The Mercy in Motion Campaign generated a 68% increase in scholarship funding, and support for service-immersion experiences. The campaign included a transformative $10 million gift from the Maguire Foundation and gifts from many other donors to fund the Frances M. Maguire ’55 Healthcare Innovation Center, a new state-of-the-market hub for healthcare and interprofessional education designed to meet the urgent need for more compassionate care professionals.

Campaign funding, including grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), supported several other campus transformation projects, including extensive renovations to the residential living complex and gymnasium, and the addition of a new outdoor gathering space for students, among other improvements.

“This campaign was made possible by people who believe in our Mercy mission and in the promise of our students,” said Christina Riso, JD, Vice President for University Advancement. “Their generosity will have a lasting impact on our campus and the many lives our graduates will touch during and after their time here.”

A new emphasis on planned giving also generated the largest planned giving gift in the University’s history, building a foundation for support that extends far into the future.

Beyond these milestones, Mercy in Motion has helped build a stronger culture of philanthropy, engagement, and collaboration across the University community, ensuring that future generations of Distinctive Mercy Graduates have the resources needed to prepare for successful careers and meaningful lives in a global society.

To learn more about GMercyU’s Mercy in Motion campaign, visit: https://www.gmercyu.edu/giving-gmercyu/mercy-in-motion/.

About Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Mercy University prepares students to become top professionals in the fields of nursing and other health professions, education, business, and the arts and sciences. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1948, Gwynedd Mercy University offers more than 70 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and associate degree programs. In 2025, GMercyU was named a Best Value College by Niche and an Opportunity University by the Carnegie Foundation for its equitable access to higher education and graduate earnings. The University’s campus is situated on 145 private acres on Sumneytown Pike between routes 309 and 202 in Gwynedd Valley, Montgomery County. The University also offers online/accelerated undergraduate and graduate degree programs for working professions and career-changers. Learn more at gmercyu.edu, or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.