A review of Fordham fundraising for the first half of Fiscal Year 2010 is leading University officials to cast an optimistic outlook for its remainder.
Gifts and pledges received by the University during the last six months of 2009 totaled $29.2 million. That marks a 4.25 percent increase over the same period in 2008, which yielded $28 million.
Perhaps just as impressive given the economic climate is that payments made on commitments totaled $20.6 million from July 1 to Dec. 31. This represents a 20.5 percent increase over the $17.1 million received during the last six months of 2008.
Such figures bode well for the University, which is in the midst of Excelsior | Ever Upward | The Campaign for Fordham, a $500 million capital campaign that launched publicly last March.
“Year-end giving from alumni and friends has brought our campaign progress to $306.5 million, crossing an important milestone in Excelsior | Ever Upward | The Campaign for Fordham,” said Roger Milici, associate vice president for development and University relations. “We are extremely grateful for the trust and support our donors have demonstrated, and firmly believe that philanthropy is leading the way to transform Fordham.”
In addition to dollars raised, alumni participation is an important area of measure within the campaign. As of Dec. 31, Fordham is 709 undergraduate alumni donors ahead of last year at the same time.
“We’ve worked very hard to increase the number of alumni who give to Fordham each year. It’s a real testament to Fordham alumni that for each year since we have started the campaign, they’ve responded with such enthusiasm,” said Tracey Vranich, assistant vice president for development operations. “In Fiscal Year 2005, Fordham’s undergraduate participation was 16 percent. At the end of last fiscal year, it had grown to 24 percent, and we hope to increase it to 25 percent by the end of this fiscal year.”
