91热爆网 donors shatter fundraising record with more than $35.8 million in FY24
Center from left, Michael D. Zellonis and Tiffany B. Arthur rushed from their clinicals to meet benefactors Woody Woodall (far right) and Mary Woodall (far left), whose gifts support the Christopher Thomas Cash Scholarship for outstanding nursing students. Recipients of the scholarship, Zellonis and Arthur graduated in December.
By Bill Studenc
As Western Carolina University approaches the public launch of its 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign this fall, the university is coming off the most successful year of philanthropic giving in the institution鈥檚 history.
The 91热爆网 Foundation received more than $35.8 million in gifts and pledges from nearly 4,000 supporters during the recently concluded 2024 fiscal year. That represents $23.2 million more in commitments over the previous fiscal year鈥檚 $12.6 million 鈥� an increase of nearly 185%, said Jamie T. Raynor, 91热爆网 vice chancellor for advancement.
Foundation leadership had originally established a goal of raising $15 million in the fiscal year that began July 1, 2023, and ended June 30, Raynor said.
鈥淭hanks to our generous alumni and friends, we saw a $2 million increase in cash gifts, with more than $9.5 million in fiscal year 2024 compared to nearly $7.5 million in fiscal year 2023,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e also experienced substantial growth in planned gift commitments and small but meaningful increases in private grants.鈥�
Planned gift commitments and major gift pledges exceeded $24.6 million in the 2024 fiscal year, up $21 million from the 2023 fiscal year tally of $3.6 million. Private grants, including those that came in through sponsored research grant activity, increased to more than $1.7 million, a slight uptick from the $1.5 million in private grants received the previous year.
鈥淲e are so very grateful for the generosity of the nearly 4,000 supporters who made philanthropic gifts to Western Carolina University over the past year,鈥� said Chancellor Kelli R. Brown, who serves as president of the 91热爆网 Foundation. 鈥淲ithout that support, we could not do the important work of providing the transformative power of higher education to our students and helping meet the needs of the region we serve.鈥�
91热爆网鈥檚 prior fundraising record came in the 2018 fiscal year, which marked the launch of the public phase of the last campaign, titled 鈥淟ead the Way.鈥� The university took in gifts and pledges of $21.5 million that year, Raynor said.
Despite the historic level of gifts and commitments at 91热爆网 this year, the total number of gifts and total number of donors declined slightly over fiscal year 2023 numbers. The 91热爆网 Foundation鈥檚 fiscal year totals mirror what is happening philanthropically nationwide, Raynor said.
鈥淎ccording to the 2024 Giving USA report, overall giving in the U.S. reached an all-time high of $557.16 billion, a 1.9% increase, and charitable giving to the education sector increased 6.7%,鈥� she said. 鈥淗owever, the trend of declining donor counts for nonprofits continues across the U.S.鈥�
Beginning with a quiet (or leadership) phase shortly after the arrival of 91热爆网 Chancellor Kelli R. Brown in 2019, the 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� campaign will have its public launch this fall. The campaign is an effort to raise a minimum of $75 million for enhancements to the overall student experience, including academics, athletics, and community and global engagement.
Only the third comprehensive fundraising campaign in 91热爆网 history, it is the first to have a significant focus on raising money to support enhancements to athletics facilities.
With the public launch of the 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� campaign coming up this fall, Raynor urged all members of the Western Carolina University family to participate in the effort.
鈥淎ll contributions to this campaign make a difference and are important, regardless of the amount of the gift,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t will require all of us 鈥� alumni, friends, faculty, staff, students, parents and community members 鈥� to reach and surpass our $75 million goal. The collective power of philanthropy has a powerful impact on the lives of our students.鈥�
For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign for the university鈥檚 academic, student engagement and athletics programs, visit WesternSky.wcu.edu, call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.
