U of M, UMC Focus on Last Year of Campaign as Initial Goal Is Reached
The University of Minnesota has announced priorities for the final year of Campaign Minnesota, the state's largest private fund-raising campaign ever, which is scheduled to end on June 30, 2003. As of April 30, $1.327 billion has been raised system-wide, putting the campaign over its goal of $1.3 billion a year ahead of schedule.
At
the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) the fiscal year-to-date total
of gifts and pledges designated is currently at $667,438.
Michael Meyer,
UMC’s Director of Development, announced that “thanks to the
tremendous support of UMC alumni and friends the four-year total of gifts
and pledges designated for UMC has now reached
$5,166,272--with one year left of the campaign!”
UMC’s campus-specific goal has been $5 million.
According to Meyer, a large portion of this total figure of UMC gift dollars is in future pledges and sponsored programs. He said, “These types of commitments will help to keep UMC growing and vibrant in the future and are essential to our long-term success. As we enter this, the final year of the campaign, our emphasis will be on increasing scholarships that may be used immediately to provide support for current students and as a means of drawing new talented students to UMC. “
Undergraduate tuition across the University of Minnesota system increased on average 13 percent this year, and the proposed tuition increase at UMC for this coming fall is 7.5 percent. Scholarship funds help mitigate the impact of these tuition increases on talented and needy students.
UMC's transition to baccalaureate degree programs and the move to NCAA Division II Athletics have created additional scholarship needs. Recently, the UMC Teambackers, an athletics booster club, hosted their annual "Fun Nite" and raised approximately $13,500--a new record for the event--for student athletic scholarships. Officials are very grateful, but needs continue as expenses rise each year.
UMC’s First Endowed Chair
As part of the campaign, a Chair for Rural Economic Development was established by the Dr. Frank W. Veden Charitable Trust in 2001. It is the first endowed chair at UMC. A $500,000 gift from the Veden trust has been matched with permanent University funds of $500,000. The Veden Endowment also supports two half-time fellows for rural economic development at UMC.
Dr. Frank Veden, who died Dec. 2, 1996, after practicing dentistry in Fergus Falls for 47 years, created the Frank W. Veden Charitable Trust to support education, health, science, industry, recreation, agriculture, environmental protection and social welfare.
Contributions Still Needed
Despite meeting the system-wide monetary goal, University officials and campaign volunteers stress that the campaign is not complete and that reaching every campaign objective is even more important as the University makes the transition to a new president. During its final year, the campaign will focus on reaching its fund-raising goals for student support and libraries, and for each campus and college. About $150 million more in gifts is needed to achieve all these system-wide campaign objectives.
Campaign Minnesota is the sixth largest campaign among public universities. Support for the campaign has been broad, including 190,000 donors--39 percent of whom are U of M alumni. The campaign has brought in 271 gifts of $1 million or more.
"I have been very impressed by the number of people who've stepped forward to support this university, and I know this will continue," said University President Mark Yudof, who is leaving at the end of July to become chancellor of the University of Texas system. "This community has demonstrated an extremely generous and philanthropic spirit for the university."
"The campaign has contributed to the wonderful momentum taking place across the university, and completing every goal will help to sustain it," said Executive Vice President and Provost Robert Bruininks, who was named interim president last Friday. "Importantly, the successful completion of the campaign will give the new university president a wonderful foundation to build upon."
Campaign Progress to Date
The success of the campaign illustrates broad support among alumni, friends and businesses for the long-term health of the University. Support for faculty has been high, with $288 million raised to create 88 endowed chairs. In addition, $462 million for research is spurring advances in new media, microbial and plant genomics, biotechnology, life sciences, digital technology, design, agricultural research and medicine.
Other highlights include $56 million raised from 8,278 faculty and staff members. "The generosity of university faculty and staff has been inspiring," said Gerald Fischer, president and CEO of the University of Minnesota Foundation, which provides university-wide leadership for the campaign. "This level of giving demonstrates an extraordinary commitment and is unusually high for any university."
Campaign officials began a special effort this past year to reach out to all alumni to give everyone an opportunity to participate. "We are inviting all alumni to be part of this historic campaign," said Bennett. "I believe that what we do now will determine whether Minnesota will continue to have a great research university that our children and grandchildren can attend."
Posted 06/13/2002
Contact: Andrew Svec,
218-281-8435