For
the third consecutive year, Penn State leads the nation in the number of alumni
making gifts annually to their universities, according to figures recently made
available by the Council for Aid to Education (CAE).
By Mike Bezilla
University Relations
For
the third consecutive year, Penn State leads the nation in the number of alumni
making gifts annually to their universities, according to figures recently made
available by the Council for Aid to Education (CAE).
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, 72,208 Penn State alumni made gifts to the University. The University of Michigan ranked second, receiving gifts from 68,602 of its alumni. Harvard University ranked third with gifts from 65,496 alumni.
Among Big Ten public universities, Penn State also ranked first in the percent of alumni who made gifts in fiscal 1999. According to CAE figures, 18.7 percent of all Penn State alumni made donations. Purdue University had the second-highest participation rate among Big Ten publics, with 17.9 percent of its alumni making gifts. Northwestern University, the only private institution in the Big Ten, had a participation rate of 19.5 percent.
"These numbers are a wonderful tribute to the generosity and enthusiasm of our alumni," said Rod Kirsch, Penn State's vice president for development and alumni relations. "We are especially pleased to have achieved such a high ranking in the rate of alumni participation. That is considered one of the most important indicators nationally of alumni satisfaction and loyalty.
"Our high ranking also reflects the vitality of the Grand Destiny Campaign and the success we've had in communicating to our alumni how much their private support adds value and quality to Penn State."
The Grand Destiny Campaign is the University's effort to raise $1 billion in private support over the seven-year period ending June 30, 2003.
Kirsch also noted that, among Big Ten universities, Penn State improved its ranking in fiscal 1999 in eight of 13 categories that measure an institution's philanthropic achievements. In three of these categories, Penn State now ranks second.
In total dollars received through matching gifts from corporations, Penn State received almost $2.5 million, second only to the University of Michigan's nearly $2.7 million. Penn State also ranked second in the number of individual gifts matched by corporations -- 6,796. Purdue University led the Big Ten in this category, receiving 7,458 gifts matched by corporations. Corporations that have matching-gift policies typically match gifts made by employees on a one-to-one or a one-to-two basis.
In the category of donations made via deferred gifts, Penn State's $14.5 million was second only to Michigan State University's $29.7 million. Deferred gifts are commitments made currently, often in the form of trusts or other estate plans, that will be fulfilled at a future time.
For a more complete list of rankings in the categories mentioned above, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/about/bigten/rankings.html.