WKU Celebrates Record-
Breaking Fundraising Year
July 13, 2004
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University closed the 2003-2004 fiscal year with a record-breaking $12.5 million received in cash gifts as well as an all-time high for the combined endowment.
According to Tom Hiles, WKU's vice president for Institutional Advancement, the combined endowment for WKU rose to $69.2 million, up 23 percent from last year's record-breaking $56.4 million. The $12.5 million cash figure represented a 52 percent increase over gifts received just four years ago, he said.
"According to the Council for Aid to Education (CAE), our endowment figure of $69.2 million compares favorably to the national average of $22 million for all public master's level institutions," Hiles said. "These record-breaking numbers are a reflection of both the ambitious plans of WKU President Gary Ransell to transform Western into national prominence as well as the support of our loyal alumni and friends. We are so grateful to our benefactors, and we are excited that, with their support, Western's best days are ahead."
Other notable highlights from the 2003-2004 fiscal year include:
- Corporate giving was up 90 percent to an all-time high of $7.2 million.
- President's Circle membership rose to 1,585 members. This number represents a 10 percent increase from last year, and a 90 percent increase from membership just four years ago. The President's Circle recognizes donors who give at least $1,000 each year to the University.
- A total of 15.1 percent of Western's alumni gave to Western last year, a figure that was up 8 percent over last year. This level of participation compares favorably to the national average of 7.5 percent for all public master's level institutions, as reported through the CAE.
- Total gifts to University Athletics were up 6 percent to $1.5 million. This number also represents more than $1 million raised on behalf of the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation, which provides scholarship support to 350 WKU student-athletes on an annual basis.
- Gifts from Western faculty and staff members were up 92 percent from last year, with $769,538 in gifts received from 710 employees.
Dr. Ransdell said he is pleased by the strides Western has made. "In the year after our successful $102 million campaign, it is indeed encouraging to see this increase," he said. "We are very appreciative of the continued support of the Western family."
For more information, contact Tom Hiles at (270) 745-6208. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
