Philanthropic gifts and commitments to Kansas State University given through the Kansas State University Foundation totaled $174.2 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2018. This marks the second most successful year in the university’s fundraising history.
“2018 was an incredible year as generous K-State alumni and friends, university faculty and staff, and campus partners stepped up to boldly advance the university and move K-State closer to becoming a Top 50 public research university,” said Greg Willems, president and CEO of KSU Foundation. “The K-State family can be proud of what we have achieved together to support students, faculty, facilities and programs in fiscal year 2018.”
Of the $174.2 million raised in fiscal year 2018, donors gave 61 percent — or $106 million — through endowed gifts, pledges and deferred gifts, which ensures the long-term prosperity of the university. In addition, the value of the university’s long-term investment pool grew to $539 million as of June 30, 2018. Endowment growth is key to becoming a Top 50 public research university by the year 2025, as it directly correlates to the university’s capacity to serve future generations of K-Staters.
“K-State is an education, innovation and service leader because of the commitment that generous alumni and friends make toward the university,” said Richard B. Myers, university president. “Every day, K-Staters demonstrate their confidence in the future of the university and its ability to achieve its mission as a land-grant institution to make quality education accessible to all.”
Other key philanthropic achievements for the 2018 fiscal year included:
• Private funds of $92.2 million were made directly available to campus for students, faculty, facilities and programs.
• One hundred seventy new scholarships were created, up from 124 in fiscal year 2017, and $37 million total gifts and commitments for scholarships and student success raised.
• Twenty-eight gifts and commitments of $1 million or more were made, totaling nearly $100 million.
• Gift commitments through estate planning, including wills, trusts and annuities, reached an all-time high of $61.2 million, up from $57 million in fiscal year 2017.
• Endowed gifts and commitments totaled $106 million, up from $61.8 million in fiscal year 2017. Endowed gifts create a legacy for the donor by providing long-term funding for the purpose they support, such as student scholarships, faculty chairs and professorships.
• Forty-three thousand alumni and friends gave to advance Kansas State University and over 20 percent of alumni gave to support the university, exceeding the national average of 5 percent of alumni who give to their alma maters.
• Cash, pledges and commitments of $1.2 billion had been raised as of June 30, 2018, toward the $1.4 billion Innovation and Inspiration Campaign goal.
“It’s been a great year for K-State philanthropy,” said Steve Lacy, chairman of the KSU Foundation board of directors. “The K-State family has acted with tremendous generosity in fiscal year 2018, and we are grateful that our donors and strategic collaborators are focused on making the university even more successful to meet the needs of a changing and global economy. Thanks to the hard work of so many, we are on the right track with the Innovation and Inspiration Campaign and K-State’s 2025 vision.”