ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s generous community of supporters made fundraising history this year by donating $16.5 million to the university during 2007-2008. That mark surpassed the previous fundraising record at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ of $13.6 million during 2005-2006.
Donors gave $8.9 million to the endowment, setting another impressive fundraising milestone. Endowment gifts created additional scholarships to attract talented students, including those with limited financial means; professorships to recruit and retain outstanding faculty; and to help maintain ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s beautiful campus and facilities. These gifts also supported ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s signature programs, including study abroad and service.
Endowment support nearly tripled during 2007-2008 compared with the previous year, when donors gave $3.3 million to ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s endowment.
“In all of our discussions with alumni, parents and friends, building the endowment has consistently emerged as the most important priority,” said Nan Perkins, Vice President for University Advancement. “Now our donors are making this goal a reality, and their gifts will have a lasting impact.”
Building ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s endowment is the focus of the university’s upcoming fundraising campaign. A larger endowment will secure ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s future and generate earnings to support quality programs, talented faculty and world-class facilities.
During 2007-2008, donors also set new records for gifts to the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Fund, Parents and Grandparents Fund, and Phoenix Club. In all, donors contributed gifts totaling $5.1 million to those funds and for other current operating needs.
President Leo M. Lambert thanked the many alumni, parents, faculty/staff and friends of the university who continued to demonstrate their support for ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s core values through giving.
“One of ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s enduring strengths is the generosity of our partners in giving,” Lambert said. “I am grateful for their role in helping to make fundraising history at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ. Our dedicated benefactors have funded critical priorities that will transform the lives of young people — programs like scholarships, the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Academy and international study grants.”
In 2006 and 2007, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ received the WealthEngine Award for overall improvement in educational fundraising from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).