Evangel sees record-breaking donations this summer

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Evangel University (EU) is wrapping up a record-breaking summer of donations, receiving over $20 million in philanthropic support in the last six weeks. 

EU says in a news release that this summer has been “the most impactful and transformative season of giving in the institution’s history.”

Included is a $12 million gift from the estate of Robert and Sandra Graper; $6 million from David Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby and Mardel and advocate for Christian higher education; and $2 million from Daryl and Lois Flood, longtime EU supporters. A residence hall currently under construction on Evangel’s campus is named in the Floods’ honor.

The release says with these latest contributions, total giving and grants to Evangel University over the past 44 months have surpassed $117 million.

“This summer will be remembered not just for what was given, but for what it made possible,” said EU President Mike Rakes in the release. “We’ve witnessed an outpouring of generosity that signals more than financial strength—it reveals a shared faith in the mission and future of our university.”

The $12 million gift from the Graper estate is the largest single donation in Evangel’s 70-year history and reflects a deeply personal legacy — four of the Grapers’ six children are Evangel alumni. 

Robert, a US Air Force veteran of the Korean War conflict, was a businessman who served for 36 years with Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Co. He passed away in April of 2021 and his wife, Sandra, passed away this June.

This is the second major contribution to EU from the Graper estate, following a $5.6 million legacy gift in December 2024.

The Graper’s $12 million gift will be endowed to provide scholarships for students preparing for ministry, ensuring future generations are equipped to serve, per the release.

The additional $8 million will further strengthen the university’s capacity to pursue strategic priorities and meet the needs of its growing student body.

“Together we are building more than walls of brick and stone; we are launching callings, stewarding legacies, and preparing a generation to lead with virtue and vision,” said Rakes.