Philanthropic gifts and commitments by alumni, friends, parents, faculty, students and corporate partners of Kansas State University totaled $141.5 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30.
This level of philanthropic support marks the third most successful year in charitable giving in the more than 70-year history of the Kansas State University Foundation, and the fourth consecutive year fundraising has topped $100 million.
“The support of our alumni and friends is a resounding endorsement of the leadership of the university and future of Kansas State University,” said retired Gen. Richard Myers, Arlington, Virginia, chairman of the KSU Foundation board of directors. “The K-State family continues to come together year after year in support of our great university, and I am excited for the bold future we will build together.”
Of the $141.5 million total, 34 percent is available for the university’s use immediately, while donors gave 66 percent through endowed gifts, pledges and deferred gifts, which will be utilized by the university at some point in the future.
“Increasingly, one of the most important funding sources for K-State are philanthropic dollars received through the KSU Foundation,” said Greg Willems, president and CEO of KSU Foundation. “The foundation plays an essential role in the university’s future by working with our generous alumni and friends to make a difference in the lives of our students, faculty and staff. This year’s success validates that K-Staters understand that the difference between good universities and great universities is private support. The impact of these gifts will be felt throughout the academy and will fuel the inspiration and innovation needed to reach the university’s goals, both in the near and long term.”
One of the most notable aspects of this year’s results was the $53 million in endowed gifts and commitments. Endowed gifts provide long-term funding for the purpose they support, including student scholarships and faculty chairs and professorships, and create a legacy for the donor. The growth of the Kansas State University endowment pool, managed by the KSU Foundation, also had a successful year, with the market value nearly hitting the $500 million mark.
“The university’s endowment is a benchmark toward our goal of becoming a Top 50 public research university by 2025,” said Kirk Schulz, Kansas State University president. “Achieving this important milestone is a credit to the many alumni and friends who seek to create a lasting difference in the success of the university and its capacity to serve future generations of K-Staters.”
Other key philanthropic achievements for the 2015 fiscal year:
• 57,813 individuals made more than 80,550 gifts.
• Forty-nine percent of gifts came from Kansas State University alumni.
• Twenty-eight K-State families made gifts and commitments of $1 million or more.
• Gift commitments through estate planning, including wills, trusts and annuities reached an all-time high of $46 million.
• Gifts received through corporate matching gift programs reached an all-time high, with $965,192 given by 176 companies that matched one or more gifts from individuals.
In light of recent budget uncertainties in the state of Kansas, Schulz said that private support is increasingly important to Kansas State University.
“Less than 20 percent of the university’s operating budget now comes from the state, and the remainder of the budget comes from three sources: tuition, grants and contracts, and private philanthropic support given through the KSU Foundation,” Schulz said. “Philanthropic support by alumni and friends is critical to our success. I want to thank our generous donors for their commitment to the university’s future.”
Philanthropic contributions to the university are coordinated by the KSU Foundation. The foundation staff works with university partners to build lifelong relationships with alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students through involvement and investment in the university.
