Last modified: Thursday, July 17, 2003
IU sets record for number of donors
More donors made contributions to Indiana University in the last fiscal year than at any time in its history -- 105,977 of them, a 5 percent increase over the previous record of 100,795 set last year.
Contributions were the second-highest on record: $155.2 million, including $45 million of a $50 million grant from the Lilly Endowment for life sciences at IU. Even without the Lilly Endowment grant, contributions increased by almost 20 percent over the previous year's total of $92.4 million.
These preliminary, unaudited numbers were reported by the Indiana University Foundation, the not-for-profit corporation that partners with IU development staff on all eight campuses to raise gift funds. The foundation also manages IU's endowment and provides centralized development support and administrative services for the university and its donors.
"These results show, once again, that a great university receives great support from its loyal donors, even in difficult economic times," said Curt Simic, president of the IU Foundation. "IU's chancellors, deans and development officers are doing a wonderful job of communicating to donors the excitement of the world-class education that IU offers. I want to recognize them and also the many volunteers working for IU on advisory and campaign committees, and especially the IU Foundation Board of Directors."
Simic credited the success of IU's fundraising efforts to a long-term strategy that includes a series of major campaigns, such as a $700 million campaign for the IUPUI campus that has already exceeded its goal with a year to go; a comprehensive fundraising program that attracts annual, major and planned gifts from alumni, corporations, foundations and other friends of the university; committed volunteers; and the university and IU Foundation staff working for every IU campus.
Looking ahead, Simic anticipates continued success in fundraising as the university focuses on fully developing the Central Indiana Life Sciences Initiative in partnership with the state, the city of Indianapolis, and key corporate and foundation leaders.
The following is information separated by fiscal year, number of donors and contributions (in millions) for the past five years:
2003: 105,977* donors, $155.2* million (includes $45 million from the Lilly Endowment)
2002: 100,795 donors, $92.4 million
2001: 99,805 donors, $220.7 million (includes $105 million from the Lilly Endowment)
2000: 100,273 donors, $109.1 million
1999: 99,528 donors, $75.4 million
* Preliminary, unaudited numbers
