Published on December 17, 2025 by Neal Embry  
ScholarshipStory

In 2025, the advisory board of Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School talked about ways to help students beyond tuition scholarships. 

“So many students and their families are challenged with costs of living outside of tuition during their seminary stay here in Birmingham, and a considerable number of Beeson students have no previous ties to or connections with Birmingham or even Alabama, particularly our growing international student population,” said Beeson’s development officer Elliott Dansby. 

The Lord graciously provided Beeson with an answer in the summer of 2025 – an anonymous gift that began the Financial Assistance Fund, aimed to help ensure students at Beeson can thrive during their time in Birmingham. 

Dean Douglas Sweeney said this can be especially helpful for international students, which the school hopes to attract more of in the future. 

“The internationalization of Beeson’s on-campus community and ministry horizons, and the mobilization of even more cross-cultural ministers, stands at the center of Beeson’s current strategic plan,” Sweeney said. “We want to put our people in touch with the redeeming work of God here at home and around the world, preparing them to lead globally conscious and mission-minded churches.” 

As Beeson’s admission and student services teams identify student needs , the scholarship committee will review the request and determine the level of support provided by the fund. 

“The needs are significant,” Dansby said. “With Beeson’s enrollment growth, it’s expected that there will be even more need in the future as Beeson practices its mission of training ministers in an increasingly unique, in-person, interdenominational and evangelical academic community.” 

Several gifts have already come into the fund, from both individuals and ministry organizations that support Beeson’s mission. 

“There are many exciting ways to financially support the Lord’s work here at Beeson, but this Financial Assistance Fund is a timely priority to meet a growing need,” Dansby said. 

To give to this new fund, give online and select the Financial Assistance Fund as your designated area of giving, or contact Elliott Dansby at eodansby@samford.edu. 

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.