UNM
Foundation tops $40 million in private support
By Steve
Carr
The UNM
Foundation has announced that it received more than $40 million
in private funds during the 2001-02 fiscal year, 6.7 percent
more than its goal of $37.3 million. The record-setting figure
constitutes a 13.5 percent increase over the previous fiscal
year, which brought in a then-record $35.3 million.
| Private
donations to UNM have risen by nearly $9 million since 1999-2000 |
|
$31.4 million
|
|
$35.3 million
|
|
$40.07 million
|
|
1999-00
|
|
2000-01
|
|
2001-02
|
We
are pleased that donors continued to support important programs
for UNM during the past fiscal year, which was marred by September
11 and continued upheaval in the financial market, said
Judy Jones, vice president for Advancement. Our foundation
and development staff, as well as deans and faculty members
involved in fundraising, deserve an enormous amount of credit
for their success in securing and stewarding private gifts that
contribute to our teaching, research and public service mission.
Nationally,
educational contributions have been declining. In the 1990s,
contributions rose by more than 10 percent a year. Contributions
slowed to a six percent increase in 2000 and dipped to a half
percent increase last year, says Leslie Elgood, president of
the UNM Foundation and director of Development.
Our
long-time donors and hardworking staff certainly carried
the day in fiscal year 2001-2002, said Elgood. Our
donors responded to appeals geared toward keeping the importance
of quality education at UNM positioned front and center. Staff
continually challenged thoughts that economic times were making
our jobs difficult and non-productive. When the going gets tough
I think the strength of UNMs mission and vision and its
relevance to New Mexico kicks in.
The rise
in private contributions and grants to UNM was due in large
part to: a growing recognition of strategic importance of UNM
both in the future of the state and to the nation; increased
community and faculty involvement in development efforts; and
continued professional development of UNMs fundraisers,
support staff and the organization as a whole, Elgood says.
Two areas
where contributions increased came from non-alumni and foundation
giving. An increase of 35.9 percent was attributed to non-alumni,
while an increase of 26.9 percent came through foundations.
Those gains offset a decline in corporate contributions which
declined 16.5 percent reflecting the current business climate.
The UNM Foundation is an incorporated not-for-profit organization
with the responsibility to receive, invest and distribute gifts
of private support to UNM. For information, call 277-4503.