University's Record Fundraising Year

The University of Maryland, College Park has just completed the most successful fundraising year in its history, closing a record total of $85 million in gifts from alumni and friends in the fiscal year that ended June 30th. In addition to dollars raised, a record number of alumni donors--more than 25,000--supported their alma mater through gifts and pledges this year.

Notable gifts included an $8 million planned gift from an alumna who wished to remain anonymous, benefiting the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center (opening in 2005), as well as music scholarships, the Art Gallery and performance and residence funds in the performing arts. Another $2.4 million from the Knight Foundation to the Philip Merrill College of Journalism will renew funding for print and broadcast journalists to sharpen their reporting and editing skills as Knight Fellows in week-long courses at Maryland, as they have done for the past 16 years.

"This record year comes at an important time in the University's history," said Brodie Remington, Vice President of University Relations. "Maryland is poised to enter the leadership phase of its next major campaign and will need to significantly raise its sights over the last major fundraising effort." That campaign raised $476 million over a seven-year period ending in 2002.

President Dan Mote stressed that fundraising growth is a necessity, given the steady decrease in funding for public higher education.

"Maryland remains steadfastly committed to its goal of maintaining and building its quality as one of the nation's great research universities, while protecting access for talented students who dream of attending the State's flagship university. There is an ever-growing need for private funding to support students and retain top faculty," said Mote. "We are extremely grateful to our growing base of alumni and friends who recognize the need for Maryland to ramp up its fundraising efforts to the levels once seen only at private institutions."

John Brophy, new Chair of the University of Maryland College Park Board of Trustees, credits much of the success to the hard work of dedicated volunteers and staff.

"Under the ambitious leadership of outgoing Chair Barry Gossett and Development Committee Chair Mark Turner, our trustees and donors are setting a new pace," Brophy said. "Our visionary deans and talented University Relations team should also be commended. They have raised the bar on expectations for raising money, reconnecting with alumni, and building pride in the University. You can't build a great research university without that kind of support."