A History of the John Evans Club

In 1851, Dr. John Evans and his eight founding colleagues envisioned an educational institution of "the highest order of excellence." A century later, in 1954, a group of 31 Northwestern alumni sought to pay lasting tribute to Evans by establishing The John Evans Club.

As Northwestern's foremost donor recognition society, The John Evans Club was to play a key role in ensuring that the founder's vision would continue to be realized.

Today, the Club has more than 3,000 members. Since 1954, contributions to Northwestern by John Evans Club members have exceeded $300 million.

These gifts have enriched the University's academic and cultural environment by enabling Northwestern to endow professorships, sponsor research, create innovative academic programs, provide scholarships, augment library collections,
and renovate and expand the physical plant.

At the time of its establishment, The John Evans Club pioneered as a recognition society for donors making contributions above a prescribed, substantial level of giving. Because of its notable success, The John Evans Club has served as a model for many other institutions of higher learning.