Philanthropists provided a record-breaking $52.3 million through the NDSU Foundation and Alumni Association during the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2016.
This is up dramatically from the $28.6 million reported in 2015 and exceeds the previous benchmark of $39 million in 2014. Just five years ago, the foundation recorded $16 million in annual fundraising production. More than 8,600 donors made gifts to support NDSU.
“Benefactors to NDSU are truly making a difference in the lives of students and the education they are receiving,” said Steve Swiontek, chair of the foundation’s executive governing board. “We are grateful to our alumni and friends who have made this impact and helping to advance the university’s mission as a student-focused, land-grant, research university. This was a remarkable year in the history of philanthropic impact at NDSU, and these gifts will influence the trajectory of higher education in the state.”
The foundation reported outright gifts and pledges of $30,927,976, which included $5.1 million in matching funds through the North Dakota Higher Education Challenge Fund program, new gifts and commitments. The matching grant program contributed one dollar for every two dollars of private funds for approved projects. Deferred commitments, also known as planned gifts or estate gifts, totaled $21,402,566. These are commitments to be realized at some point in the future.
“NDSU is grateful to the generosity of alumni, friends and the North Dakota Higher Education Challenge Fund,” said NDSU President, Dean L. Bresciani. “Private support makes a tremendous impact to the level of education we are able to provide for our students who – after graduating – will serve our communities and region. To surpass $50 million in one year is unprecedented in the institution’s history and is a testament to the value of an NDSU degree that our 88,000 alumni around the world believe in.”
In addition to the new fundraising production secured, the foundation transferred more than $20 million to NDSU for scholarships, faculty support, college and department programs, facilities and equipment. These funds include spendable earnings from the foundation’s permanent endowment and expendable funds that are available for campus programs to spend immediately.
The NDSU Foundation and Alumni Association is a legally separate, non-profit organization dedicated to building enduring relationships that maximize advocacy and philanthropy to support NDSU.