Mississippi State University reported its third-straight year receiving more than $80 million in donations Wednesday.
The university exceeded $81.3 million in outright gifts and pledges from various sources, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts and estates, for Fiscal Year 2013. MSU posted a record-setting donation total in FY 2012 — it received more than $86.4 million that year — and raised in excess of $80 million for FY 2011.
MSU’s FY 2013 totals also rank the school above others in terms of alumni giving. That total increased 18.3 percent, the university reported, a figure higher than the 11.2 national average given by the 2012 Voluntary Support of Education annual report.
“We deeply appreciate the generosity of alumni and friends who are investing their personal resources to help Mississippi State University carry out its invaluable mission of teaching, research and service,” said MSU President Mark Keenum in a release. “This level of support is clear evidence that individuals and corporate supporters have confidence in our efforts to impact the lives of individuals across our state and nation and extend our reach across the globe.”
“Another successful year of private support is an important milestone for the university, particularly as we move toward announcing another long-term fundraising endeavor this fall to advance Mississippi State and its long-range strategic plan and priorities,” added John Rush, MSU vice president for development and alumni who serves as the MSU Foundation CEO, in the same release.
Donations are calculated by adding outright gifts, pledges of new gifts and deferred gifts, Rush said in the release. The figure does not include payment of pledges from previous years or receipts of deferred gifts.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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