Total contributions were $5,627,312, up $744,555 from fiscal year 2010.

“We are pleased that giving to the University Fund has remained strong, even as donors have begun making significant capital commitments to our campaign for the new Suter Science Complex,” said Dr. Fred Kniss, provost and acting president of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ. “We are also quite fortunate to have an especially loyal core group of alumni and donors who persisted with steadfast support amidst continuing softness in the economy,” Kniss added.

Contributions to the University Fund totaled $1,818,000, an increase of nearly two percent over last year. 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s University Fund provides annual operating support for the institution as well as merit and need-based financial aid to students.

According to Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ received several substantial gifts that made the difference in total giving for the fiscal year. “We successfully completed a $2.5 million theater and fine arts campaign.  Over $520,000 of these funds were received during the year.  This includes naming gifts for a new studio theater, art gallery and advanced media lab,” said Shisler.

Several substantial contributions were also received in support of a campaign to raise funds for a new science facility at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ. “We are in the early phases of fundraising, and anticipate that several years of intensive effort will be required to reach our goal for this major project,” said Shisler.

It was also a strong year for bequests at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.  Gifts from the estates of 19 donors  amounted to nearly $1.1 million, an increase of 57 percent over the previous year.

“We are very grateful for the continued strong support for 91¶ÌÊÓƵ in the midst of difficult economic times.  We view this as an affirmation of the importance of our university’s mission,” said Kniss.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ is literally having the rug pulled out from under it, but few are complaining.

The prominent bright green turf field that has served multiple purposes for athletic programs at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ is being replaced after 17 years.

]]> /now/news/2005/gift-income-sets-new-record-for-university/ Fri, 08 Jul 2005 04:00:00 +0000 http://www.emu.edu/blog/news/?p=908 Kirk L. Shisler

91¶ÌÊÓƵ has received $5,151,962 in total contributions for the 2004-2005 fiscal year ending June 30, a 4.5 percent increase, or $226,000 more than last year.

Kirk L. Shisler, vice president for , reported that contributions of $1,484,655 to the set a new record, slightly surpassing the 2004 annual fund total of $1,480,491.

Support for 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s undergraduate and graduate programs included endowment giving of $631,949 and bequests and restricted grants of $3,035,358, Shisler noted. The largest restricted grant of $626,000 was received from Church World Service in support of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s , now in its 11th year of operation. A grant of $125,000 from Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield was awarded to support the , named for a 1991 91¶ÌÊÓƵ nursing graduate from Lancaster, Pa., who died in 2003.

Giving by 91¶ÌÊÓƵ alumni continued to increase both in total giving – $1,993,603 compared to $1,928,366 in 2004 – and in the number of donors at the $1,000-plus level. Two hundred seven alumni contributed $1,000 or more in 2005 compared with 194 who gave at that level in 2004, Shisler said.

Included in the giving totals are gifts from 184 91¶ÌÊÓƵ faculty and staff who supported the university with contributions of more than $128,000.

"We are extremely grateful to our alumni, friends, faculty/staff, and special partners whose generous contributions resulted in another record year of annual support for 91¶ÌÊÓƵ," said Loren E. Swartzendruber, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ president. "91¶ÌÊÓƵ benefits from an especially loyal group of donors whose passion for 91¶ÌÊÓƵ and its mission is consistently reflected in generous giving to both undergraduate and graduate programs of the university."

According to Swartzendruber, the strong year in donations also bodes well for 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s future given significant staff changes that have occurred within the advancement division in recent months.

"We are pleased that Kirk Shisler has assumed the post of vice president for advancement as of April 1, and that we will continue to benefit from the excellent service of Phillip Helmuth as executive director of development," Swartzendruber said. Helmuth served as interim vice president of advancement the past year.

Shisler graduated from 91¶ÌÊÓƵ in 1981 and spent more than 20 years in fund development leadership positions at Syracuse, N.Y-based ProLiteracy Worldwide prior to being recruited to his alma mater.

"I am excited to re-connect with 91¶ÌÊÓƵ in this role and to be part of a very strong team in advancing 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s mission," Shisler said. "We have some compelling opportunities to move 91¶ÌÊÓƵ forward in fulfilling its charter to prepare students to serve the global community as teachers, peacebuilders, pastors, medical professionals, business leaders, and in many other roles," he added.