ESU Foundation sees 6 percent increase
Emporia State University
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Emporia State University Foundation recorded a 6 percent increase in fundraising in the last fiscal year, an increase the foundation president credits to donors who recognize the importance of higher education as an investment.
“I am delighted with the success in our fundraising activity, especially in a very volatile economy,” said Judith Heasley, ESU Foundation president. “I attribute this to two factors: donors who came forward with generosity to invest in the education ESU provides, and a determined, forward-thinking development staff. I am incredibly proud of our donors and our staff.”
In the 2009 fiscal year, which ended June 30, total fundraising activity at the ESU Foundation — including cash gifts, pledges and deferred gifts — reached $6.986 million, a 6 percent increase over the 2008 fiscal year total of $6.59 million.
A significant portion of the increase is in deferred gifts, while a number of donors also stepped forward to provide immediate scholarship gifts in response to the economic crisis. Alumni and friends also responded to the student callers in the Foundation’s telefund, where a fiscal year record was set. The number of new donors outpaced the total of any recent year, while athletic gifts reached $1.12 million, the second-highest total ever.
As a result, the ESU Foundation was able to allocate funding to the university for the 2009-2010 school year that is on par with previous years — meaning that private support for ESU students will remain largely unchanged in the coming year, even with the economic downturn.
“The generosity of donors to the Emporia State University scholarship programs could not come at a better time for our students,” said Elaine Henrie, director of student financial aid. “We are seeing a tremendous increase in the both the number of students who are applying for aid and in the number who are requesting a reconsideration of their award level due to job loss. These gifts make getting an education possible.”