FIUTS at 77: Stronger Together

Today we launch the 2025 FIUTS Annual Campaign, and we need your help. We have set an ambitious goal to raise $150,000 by December 31 so FIUTS can keep bringing people together across cultures at a time when connection is both more difficult and more essential than ever.

It’s been 77 years since FIUTS was founded to welcome international students to Seattle and engage them as neighbors in our community. Over the decades, our city and the world have changed many times. Through it all, generations of students, volunteers, and community members have met through FIUTS programs and woven friendships, shared ideas, and built bridges across cultures that have stood the test of time.

Today’s political and social climate is creating new barriers between people. Mistrust, isolation, and division are growing, and the programs that help people come together face greater challenges. The stakes are high for students and academics who seek not only an education but also a place to belong and grow here in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.

And FIUTS is facing challenges like never before. Since losing the University of Washington contract three years ago, and now with federal cutbacks to exchange programs, resources are tighter than ever. At the same time, demand is rising as more students seek connection in a divided world. These pressures mean fewer opportunities for students to learn, explore, and build meaningful bonds.

We are committed to nurturing these connections. Like kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with gold to highlight its beauty, your support helps turn challenges into strength and resilience.

When you give to FIUTS, you add the gold thread that holds our community together. Your gift helps us heal divisions, deepen understanding, and ensure this legacy of connection and belonging continues for generations to come.

Please join us today. Your gift, big or small, makes a real difference in keeping our community strong and connected.