Las Cruces, NM and Melbourne, FL —The Coalition for Osteopathic Excellence (COE), the supporting foundation of the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, announced that it has raised $1.5 million this year to support expanded students’ scholarships and other critical academic programs. This milestone represents a 25% year-over-year increase in philanthropic support from external donors, boards, individuals, faculty, and staff.
“Reaching the $1.5 million mark is a powerful reflection of how deeply our community believes in our students and our mission,” said John Hummer, President of Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. “These investments remove barriers, open doors, and ensure that our future physicians will have a healthy and holistic impact on underserved communities.”
These funds will directly support the 2026 – 27 academic year, with additional pledged gifts expected to expand impact further. Contributions also include dedicated support for student emergency relief and research opportunities, helping ensure students can continue their medical education without interruption.
Organizational health begins with trust, clarity of purpose, and stakeholders who model the values they expect from others. A defining feature of this year’s success was 100% participation from both the COE Board of Directors and the Burrell College Board of Trustees in the 2025 giving campaign, demonstrating unified leadership and shared accountability at the highest levels of governance. Burrell College employees further strengthened this momentum, achieving a 50% participation rate, including 100% participation from the College’s leadership team.
“While the Boards’ 100% participation set an important example, it was the collective generosity of our faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners that made this achievement possible,” said Dr. William Baker, Chair of the Board for the COE. “Every contribution reflects a shared commitment to educating exemplary osteopathic physicians and ensuring access to compassionate, high-quality care in the communities they will serve.”
When combined, Board and employee giving increased by 85% compared to the prior calendar year, underscoring a growing culture of philanthropy across the institution. As part of National Giving Day, Burrell College and the COE launched a focused 30-Day Giving Day campaign, raising $12,000, with 75% of contributions coming from Burrell faculty and staff. This effort helped increase faculty and staff participation from 34% to 50%, a significant milestone in internal engagement.
When combined with gifts made earlier this fall by the Burrell College and COE Boards of Trustees, the total student appeal reached $47,500, representing a 70% increase over last year.
Although Giving Day 2025 has concluded, COE’s advancement efforts continue throughout the year, with ongoing outreach to donors and foundations and the pursuit of new grant opportunities to expand scholarship support and strengthen programs that benefit students.
“Every gift—no matter the size—advances our mission,” Dr. Baker added. “Together, we are investing in students today who will become the physicians our communities rely on tomorrow.”
The COE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) and serves as the philanthropic arm of Burrell College. For more information or to support the COE, visit: https://osteopathicexcellence.org/
About Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine: Burrell College is a four-year, private osteopathic, student-centered medical school utilizing the latest medical education technologies and methods to ensure student success in all fields of medicine — from primary care to subspecialties like surgery, anesthesiology, and emergency medicine. Established in 2013, Burrell has two campuses, Las Cruces, New Mexico and Melbourne, Florida. Learn more at burrell.edu
