Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State continues to move up through the ranks of the nation's top beneficiaries of private giving, according to a national publication.
The university now is 262 on the latest list compiled by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Reporting more than $56 million in gifts received during the 2004-05 fiscal year, the institution took a 124-place jump in the rankings, making it the top Mississippi charity.
For 15 years, the Washington, D.C.-based weekly publication has focused on the top 400 charities raising money in the United States.
The new ranking positions MSU above several other larger land-grant institutions on the list. They include Iowa State, 272; Colorado State, 312; Oklahoma State, 353; and Clemson, 390. The Starkville school also now outranks three fellow Southeastern Conference members: Auburn, 273; Mississippi, 300; and Alabama, 347.
Harvard University, which received about $540 million in private gifts, led all universities in the rankings.
The Mississippi State endowment currently stands at more than $211 million, up from $171 million at the close of FY04.
The 127-year-old institution is in the midst of its largest capital campaign to raise $400 million by the end of 2008. Since counting for "State of the Future: The Mississippi State Campaign" began in July 2001, the highly organized effort has received more than $255 million in private gifts.
"Obviously, 'State of the Future' is having quite a positive impact on giving by alumni and friends," said Dennis A. Prescott, vice president for external affairs. "Two of the largest giving years for Mississippi State have occurred during the campaign, and we anticipate an even greater response through the remainder of the campaign."
For more on "State of the Future," contact Amy Cagle at (662) 325-1006 or acagle@foundation.msstate.edu.