Private Giving to Colorado State University Increases 28 Percent in 2004-05

Private support of Colorado State University reached $58.6 million for the 2004-2005 fiscal year – a 28 percent increase over the previous year and the second highest total in the school’s history, university officials announced today.

Privately raised support – measured in gifts and pledges – totaled $45.8 million in fiscal year 2003-2004.

"This is a great achievement that has been accomplished by our donors through the hard work of the development staff, our deans, faculty and many others across campus and in the community," said Don Fry, vice president for University Development and Advancement at Colorado State. "It is a good start in the continuous effort of significantly engaging alumni and other donors in support of this great university."

Only 2002-2003 witnessed a larger fundraising total – $61.9 million – due to the record-breaking $20.1 million gift from the Bohemian Foundation. That gift involved a $4.9 million commitment to the University Center for the Arts and a $15.2 million commitment for the renovation of Hughes Stadium.      

President Larry Edward Penley’s leadership has enabled the university to reach these increased levels of private support, Fry said.

"His activity and involvement in just two years at Colorado State has made believers out of our donors and friends," he said. "We are clearly moving forward for Colorado State University’s best year ever in private support."

Fry joined Colorado State in May 2004.

Private gifts and pledges were received from more than 26,000 donors in fiscal year 2005. Some notable gifts and pledges:

– $6.3 million from International Business Machines for use of Linux services in Computer Information Systems, College of Business.

– $3 million to create the Iron Rose Ranch Chair in Musculoskeletal Equine Disease and Injury in the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

– $2.5 million from Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding LLC to the College of Agricultural Sciences to establish the Southeastern Colorado Research Center.

– $1.5 million from the Bohemian Foundation, Robert and Joyce Everitt, Monfort Family Foundation,  Bryan and Axson Morgan and Thomas and Jean Sutherland to create the William E. Morgan Endowed Chair in Liberal Arts.

– $1.3 million from the Estate of Florence M. McCluskey for the Henry and Florence McCluskey Scholarship Fund.

Colorado State has reported record private support in recent years. Fundraising totals for the past five years:

– 2003-2004: $45.8 million

– 2002-2003: $61.9 million

– 2001-2002: $44.3 million

– 2000-2001: $37.7 million

– 1999-2000 : $32.1 million

Since 1990, the university’s total invested assets have grown dramatically as well, increasing from $26 million to a high of more than $181 million in fiscal year 2005, according to the Colorado State University Foundation. The Foundation’s average return on its investments over the past 10 years is 11.49 percent, beating the S&P 500 average return of 9.94 percent over that same time period.

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