Gifts to UT Dallas Showing Steady Upward Trend

The final report of the UT Dallas Office of Development and Alumni Relations  for the 2007-2008 fundraising year in overall giving and in alumni participation describes a trend of steady increase year over year in both dollars and participation.  

“Fundraising results in 2007 were influenced by a unique one-time gift.  However, when considering 2008 and previous years, the overall trend is consistently upward,” said President David E. Daniel in his annual State of the University address early in December.

Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Dr. Aaron Conley, who joined the staff in October, described increases of the previous year as “a great return on investment in development operations at UT Dallas in recent years.

“Tuition income and state funding alone do not cover all the financial needs of a growing institution like UT Dallas,” said Conley.  “The support shared by donors provides that margin of excellence which helps distinguish the University from its peers. We hope the entire University community sees the value of this kind of work.”

The fundraising year began Sept. 1, 2007, and ended August 31, 2008. UT Dallas’ 2008 fundraising numbers at a glance are as follows:

• A total $19,378,068 was raised – including cash, stock, gifts-in-kind and irrevocable planned gifts – up 9.7 percent over the past two years.
• 16 new Founders Society members (donors who have given $25,000 or more) brought the total number of Founders Society members to 267.
• Participation in giving by undergraduate alumni increased to 8.2 percent – up from 6.9 percent the previous year
• Total participation in giving by alumni  grew to 8.7 percent – up from 7.7 percent the previous year
• Class Challenge ’08, a campaign asking the class of 2008 to donate $8 to the UT Dallas Loyalty Fund, netted pledges and gifts from more than 17 percent of the May 2008 graduates

Of particular interest is the percentage of undergraduate alumni participation, since U.S. News & World Report uses this, among other indicators, to compare and rank higher education institutions. The average university alumni participation rate nationally was 11.7 percent in 2007, down from 12.4 percent in 2004 according to Giving USA 2008, an annual philanthropy report.

UT Dallas, however, is bucking this trend with an increasing proportion of alumni giving.

 “UT Dallas alumni are incredible,” said Director of Alumni Relations Erin Dougherty.  “We are so thankful for their continued support of the University through programs like the Loyalty Fund that provide students with scholarships and extracurricular opportunities.”

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