Office of University Communications
Missouri State University Foundation endowment tops $51 million
Date: January 2, 2007
Contact: Dr. Michael Nietzel
(417) 836-8500
SPRINGFIELD — The endowment at Missouri State University has topped the $50 million milestone. It is the first step toward a larger goal, according to Missouri State President Michael T. Nietzel.
“When I came to the university in the summer of 2005,” said Nietzel, “I made it clear how important a strong endowment would be to the future of Missouri State University. I also was very public about my desire to take the endowment ultimately to $100 million. I understand that is a long-term goal, but we have made excellent progress in the past 18 months and I am optimistic that we can achieve that goal sooner rather than later.”
On June 30, 2006, the Missouri State University Foundation’s endowment stood at $46.8 million. Through additional gifts and a robust return on investment, the endowment topped $51 million before 2006 came to an end. Over the past 18 months, since July 2005, Missouri State’s endowment has grown by more than $10 million – from $41 million to more than $51 million.
“This growth is a great tribute to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, Greg Onstot, the development staff and the many individuals who work with the Missouri State Foundation,” said Nietzel. “I am especially pleased that we have achieved this milestone before Greg’s retirement was official. Of course, the ultimate thanks go to our friends and supporters, whose investments in the university’s students, faculty and programs have brought us to this point.”
After a quarter-century at Missouri State, Onstot, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the Missouri State Foundation, has retired. He concluded his duties as of Dec. 31, although his official last day is March 8, 2007.
Onstot will remain in a part-time volunteer capacity so that he can complete his role as chair of the JQH Arena Planning Committee. Onstot and his wife, Nancy, plan to continue to live in Springfield.
The Missouri State University Foundation was established in 1981 as the fund-raising arm of the university. Since 1981, the Foundation has received $120 million in outright gifts and another $39 million in deferred gifts has been committed.
In the past fiscal year (July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006) the Foundation set a record by receiving $11.8 million from 34,800 gifts. During the year, the Foundation also received the largest gift commitment in its history – $30 million from John Q. Hammons for JQH Arena. During that same year, the endowment grew $5.8 million – from $41 million to the $46.8 million.
“The credit goes to the tens of thousands of alumni and friends who have invested in Missouri State over the years,” Onstot said. “We have talked about our dreams for the university and many people have responded. All of us at the university are most grateful for such support.”