Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State continues its successful streak in private support by surpassing $51 million in total funds raised during the just-concluded fiscal year--the third-highest total ever.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, immediate and deferred financial gifts, as well as pledges payable to the university over five years, had been received from individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and estates.
"We are grateful for the continuing generosity of alumni and friends who value the university's contributions to Mississippi and the nation and share its vision for the future," said MSU President J. Charles Lee. "We are determined to justify the confidence in Mississippi State that these gifts demonstrate by making the best possible use of all of our resources as we strive to create new opportunities for the youth of Mississippi and for all of our citizens."
The combination of current gifts immediately available and income produced from previously existing endowments translated into a record amount--more than $22 million--made available for immediate use to beneficiaries across the university community during the past fiscal year.
The successful giving year also indicates continued success for the ongoing "State of the Future" campaign, the largest private fund-raising drive in the university's 126-year history. Campaign counting that began July 1, 2001, has reached more than $243 million toward an announced goal of $400 million.
All contributions to the university through December 31, 2008, are considered State of the Future commitments.
Dennis Prescott, MSU's vice president for external affairs, said State of the Future "obviously is having a favorable impact on giving.
"Two of the top three years in private gifts and pledges for MSU have occurred during the campaign: fiscal year 2002 with $74.3 million and the just-ended fiscal year 2005," he added.
Prescott observed that FY2005 also has been recognized as the best year in terms of cash receipts for Mississippi State. "The MSU Foundation received $3.7 million more than in our next best giving year," he said.
The largest giving year in university history occurred in FY2002 when $74.3 million in gifts and pledges were received. Among that year's commitments was a single $25 million gift--the largest of its kind in the university's history--and a substantial in-kind gift.
Of the total funds raised during 2004-05, new outright gifts accounted for $23.2 million, while pledges (commitments to future giving) totaled $15.2 million. Deferred gifts usually received after the donor's death made up the remaining $12.6 million.
Giving totals during a fiscal year are determined by adding new gifts received to monies pledged and deferred gifts received during the fiscal year. The foundation's fiscal year begins July 1 and concludes the following June 30.
Established in 1962 to help the university attract support from private sources, the MSU Foundation now administers the institution's non-athletic fund-raising activities. In 2003, the organization was independently cited by the Washington, D.C.-based Council for the Advancement and Support in Education with a Circle of Excellence awards for "overall improvement in fund raising."
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For additional information, contact Prescott at (662) 325-9306 or