Office of University Communications 

University Foundation averages $1 million a month

Since 2005, the Foundation has averaged nearly $1 million per month, and in keeping with the university’s goals of increasing student access to higher education and maintaining quality faculty, the Foundation has added 40 new endowed funds (scholarships and faculty positions) this year, said Brent Dunn, Missouri State’s vice president for university advancement.

In addition, at a time when national numbers show a decrease in alumni giving, a university record of 8,000-plus Missouri State alumni donors contributed to their alma mater this past academic year.

“Our goal has always been to increase the number of donors and to engage our alumni in this area,” Dunn said. “The university has made a concentrated effort to make more visits to alumni and friends throughout the country. While it’s great to break records, it’s the impact of these gifts that we celebrate.”

The majority of the funding for Fiscal Year 2008 (July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008) has been committed to academic purposes, Dunn said. A sample of the many gifts over the past year include: the Guy Mace Endowed Professorship in Engineering, gifts from the Darr Family Foundation and Journagan Construction for the Darr Agricultural Center, and the John and Fredna Mahaffey Operation Promise Scholarship for military veterans injured after Sept. 11, 2001. Additionally, $5 million has been given and pledged in support of JQH Arenathis year.

“The investments that our donors made in Missouri State University this past year are extraordinary – both in terms of the generosity that they represent as well as the students, faculty, staff and programs that they will help support,” said Missouri State President Michael T. Nietzel. “We are extremely grateful for these gifts, and we are determined to fulfill the potential that they have created for the university.”

The Missouri State University Foundation was established in 1981 as the fund-raising arm of the university. Since then, the Foundation has received $142 million in outright gifts and another $31 million in deferred gifts has been committed. To date this year, the Foundation has received more than 27,000 gifts and the endowment now stands at more than $55 million.

“We’re here to provide funds and to enhance the educational opportunities for our current and future students,” said Pat Sechler, president of the Foundation. “It’s exciting to see that so many alumni and friends continue their involvement with the university. Their support is critical to Missouri State’s tradition of success.”