Notre Dame raises record $180.7 million in 2006 fiscal year

Author: Dennis Brown

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The University of Notre Dame raised a record $180.7 million in cash contributions in the fiscal year that ended June 30, and set several other fund-raising records for the year, according to a report presented Friday to the Board of Trustees.

The total, which does not take into account pledges of future gifts, exceeded the previous high of $173.7 million set in 2004, a year in which the University received the largest contribution in its history, a $50 million bequest from the estate of Joan Kroc.

We are pleased and humbled by the support provided by Notre Dame benefactorsalumni, parents and other friends of the University,said Louis M. Nanni, vice president for University Relations.This record year in fund raising is tangible evidence of the enthusiasm in the Notre Dame family for the bold vision of our new president, Father John Jenkins. Indeed, Notre Dame benefactors are our co-creators in this venture, advancing the mission and tradition of the University in exceptional and exciting ways.

We are blessed at Notre Dame to have benefactors who believe in our multi-faceted goal – to advance in the ranks of the nations leading research institutions, stay true to our excellence in undergraduate education, and remain firmly committed to our Catholic identity,Father Jenkins said.These fund-raising records are a tribute to the loyalty and insight of the Notre Dame family and the hard work of our dedicated development team.

In addition to the overall gift total, the University set records for unrestricted giving, the percentage of alumni who contributed, pledges and overall production.

  • Unrestricted giving reached an all-time high of $25.4 million, exceeding last years record $22.9 million. Much of the total$17.6 millionwas contributed by members of the Edward Frederick Sorin Society. Flagship of the Universitys Annual Fund, the Sorin Society includes contributors who donate a minimum of $1,000 annually in unrestricted gifts, as well asFounders Circleand Presidents Circle members, who annually give minimums of $3,000 and $25,000, respectively.
  • Notre Dame alumni supported the University at a higher percentage than ever, with 53.2 percent of undergraduate alumni contributing last year, nudging the previous record of 53 percent set in 1994. Notre Dame annually ranks among the top three national universities in the percentage of alumni giving.
  • The University received a record $132.4 million in new pledge commitments, surpassing last years total by more than $50 million. Five of the new pledges were for $10 million or more.
  • Overall development production for the yearwhich includes cash contributions, new pledges and deferred giftswas $247.2 million, exceeding the previous record set last year by $47 million.
  • Spurred by efforts to raise funds for the renovation and expansion ofNotre DameLawSchool, contributions to the school totaled $14.8 million, bettering the previous record of $9.6 million in 2004
  • Partnerships with corporations and foundations resulted in $38.7 million in contributions, up from $34.9 million last fiscal year.
  • Planned giving contributed $24.2 million in cash receipts.

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