College announces $10.9 million fundraising year
Aug. 1, 2008
 After closing the books on a strong fiscal year, LaGrange College rolled out a new initiative for fiscal 2008-2009, which began July 1, titled Living Endowment Annual Donor, or LEAD. Here, Alumni Council members show off a new window decal that will be given this year to all contributors to the annual fund. Above, left to right, are Katie Hatcher, Ashley Fitzpatrick, Joe Ragland and Mike Gilmer. |
Bolstered by contributions to its $65 million “Defining Moment” campaign, charitable giving to LaGrange College for fiscal 2008 topped out at $10.9 million, which represents a 73 percent increase over the prior year and is the third-highest annual tally in the school’s 177-year history.
“The $10.9 million total was surpassed only in 2000 and 2001 when the College received disbursements from the $22.5 million Candler bequest,” Vice President for Advancement David Rowe said. “Without question, our fundraising success this past year was driven by the success the campaign has experienced thus far.”
The College publicly launched the comprehensive campaign last September and announced plans to construct the 45,000 square-foot Frank and Laura Lewis Library. Today, the three-story structure stands high over Vernon Road and is about five months away from completion.
In comparison with national trends, the
College’s 73 percent surge in contributions was notable. The Council for Aid to Education reported in February that overall giving to higher education in the U.S. rose 6.3 percent in 2007. This year, the national economic outlook has dimmed.
“Now, with an economic downturn possibly threatening other revenue streams, maintaining a healthy level of charitable giving to the College is more important than ever,” Rowe said.
Senior Director of Development and College Relations Martha Pirkle said that she’s impressed with donors’ contributions, and she shared Rowe’s view of the importance of sustaining fundraising momentum.
“The fiscal-year results and the campaign numbers are strong, but now our attention is focused on the new year,” she said. “We’re also very aware that we still have about $4.2 million to raise to make our $65 million goal before Defining Moment concludes in December 2009.”
The fiscal year, which ended in June, was buoyed by more than $4 million in contributions from Callaway Foundation Inc.—$3 million of which was the first disbursement of a $6 million campaign pledge.
A contribution from an anonymous Atlanta foundation accounted for an additional $3 million of the $10.9 million fiscal-year total, and the William I.H. and Lula E. Pitts Foundation contributed more than $1 million toward the Margaret Adger Pitts Scholarship.
The College’s annual fund, which supports current operations, also had a good year, coming in at $2.5 million and beating its goal by $133,000.
Director of Development Rebecca Roth said, “With all the excitement surrounding the construction of the new library, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the annual fund is a vital part of the campaign and is essential in supporting the College’s annual operations.
“It’s heartening to see that even during these times of economic uncertainty, our supporters have made sacrificial investments to make sure LaGrange College thrives.”
Reader feedback
Let LaGrange College know what you think
E-mail the editor at editor@lagrange.edu with your comments or questions.
Note: If published, feedback may be edited for length, style and clarity.
|
