Giving to BGSU surpasses $11.7 million

BOWLING GREEN, O.—Contributions to Bowling Green State University reached a record-breaking $11,755,457 during the fiscal year that ended June 30. That figure compares to $9.4 million donated to the University in fiscal year 2003.

Unlike in some previous years when a single major gift boosted the overall total, this year’s record high was the result of numerous gifts from a wide spectrum of supporters, according to Marcia Sloan Latta, an associate vice president of University advancement and director of development at Bowling Green.

“We’re seeing broad support and positive feelings about University initiatives and programs,” Latta said. “Private giving was up in nearly every category, with numerous six-figure gifts contributed by alumni and friends of the University.”

In addition, a record 53.7 percent of current and retired faculty and staff participated in the 2004 Family Campaign, which encourages employees and retirees to be contributors. The $935,499 from faculty, staff and retirees exceeded this year’s fundraising goal of $850,000.

Participation in the Family Campaign has grown each of the past five years.

Before the annual campaign began in 1999, about 23 percent of the roughly 3,000 BGSU faculty, staff and retirees were donors.

Support from foundations was up slightly this year, but corporate giving was down, which the BGSU development director attributed to a sluggish economy.

Many of the dollars contributed to Bowling Green during the past year are earmarked to support student scholarships, Latta said, adding, “I think people are increasingly aware of the need for privately funded scholarships so we can remain an institution of access.”

Other major gifts are designated to assist the University’s programs in entrepreneurship and to create new endowed professorships.

(Posted July 15, 2004 )