Contact:

Leslie Elgood, (505) 277-9526 Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821

November 13, 2001

UNM FOUNDATION/DEVELOPMENT OFFICE ENTER “THE PHILANTHROPY 400”

The University of New Mexico Foundation/Development office has been ranked in The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual ranking of the top 400 nonprofit organizations. UNM entered the list at No. 393, the first time it has earned the recognition in the publication.

“This is certainly a strong benchmark in the history of gifts and giving to UNM and a great boost to the institution’s fund raising operation,” said Leslie Elgood, president, UNM Foundation, Inc. “Thanks to partnerships we are building and support we have received from businesses, the Foundation world, alumni and friends, UNM continues to make great strides toward providing an educational experience that is exceptional.”

Donations to charitable groups rose 13 percent from 1999 to 2000, according to The Chronicle’s annual Philanthropy 400. The Philanthropy 400 survey ranks 400 of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations by how much money they raise from private sources. The 13 percent increase, before adjusting for inflation, was the same as the one reported for the 1999 fiscal year, but was down slightly from the 16 percent increase reported for fiscal 1998. The rate of growth in contributions last year significantly outpaced inflation, which was 3.4 percent in 2000.

To be included in this year’s 400 list, organizations needed to raise more than $30.5 million for fiscal year 1999-2000 from private sources, including foundations, corporations and individuals. UNM raised $30,878,535 and listed total income at $654,815,729 and total expenses of $588,541,881.

Overall, the 400 charities on the Chronicle’s list raised a collective $43.2 billion last year. The top 10 groups on the list raised $7.5 billions or a nearly a fifth of the $43.2 billion. Giving to the Philanthropy 400 charities accounted for almost a fifth of the charitable dollars contributed nationwide last year according to estimates compiled by Giving USA, an annual report on charitable giving published by the American Association of Fundraising Counsel Trust for Philanthropy.

UNM was one of 130 colleges and universities to receive recognition in The Philanthropy 400. Other entities included 41 international groups, 29 community foundations, 27 United Way organizations, 25 hospitals and medical centers, 22 health centers, 21 religious groups, 18 human-services groups, 14 Jewish federations, 14 museums and libraries, 14 other nonprofit groups, 11 environmental and animal-related groups, 10 youth groups, seven miscellaneous educational organizations, seven public broadcasting groups, six public affairs groups and four arts groups.

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The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981