Fundraising continues strong despite stormy economic conditions

Brandeis enjoyed another strong fundraising year in fiscal year 2010, securing $72 million in donations. It was the fifth consecutive year in which the total exceeded $70 million. The target for the all-important Annual Fund, which supports student financial aid and other urgent needs, also was exceeded, by 30 percent.

The positive results for the fiscal year that ended June 30 came despite continued economic turbulence around the world and a presidential transition at Brandeis. Jehuda Reinharz, PhD ’72, who has served as president since 1994, will step down on January 1, 2011, and be succeeded by Frederick Lawrence, who is currently dean of the George Washington University Law School.

During fiscal year 2010, Brandeis received seven new commitments of $1 million to $4.25 million, including a gift of $2 million for undergraduate scholarships from an alumnus who wishes to remain anonymous. Three significant grants were made for research in the sciences, including $1 million from the W.M. Keck Foundation, $928,000 from a foundation that preferred to be anonymous, and $870,000 from the Ellison Medical Foundation.

“Once again, Brandeis supporters showed a remarkable commitment to the University at a crucial time in our history,” Reinharz said. “I thank our devoted alumni, friends, trustees, parents, and members of the Brandeis National Committee for their generosity.”

The University’s top fundraising goal continues to be securing funds to meet the growing financial-aid needs of Brandeis students.

While many peer institutions have reduced the amount of scholarship aid available, Brandeis has continued its commitment to educating the best students regardless of their ability to pay.

More than 70 percent of Brandeis students receive scholarship support. In the 2009-10 academic year, Brandeis awarded nearly $46 million in financial aid to students. The average award was almost $23,000.

Some fundraising highlights from fiscal year 2010:

-- Gifts to the Annual Fund totaled $10.4 million, 30 percent above the goal of $8 million.

-- The $3 million Krupp Scholarship Challenge is more than 80 percent of the way toward reaching its goal. So far the Challenge has raised in excess of $1.6 million toward the $2 million goal needed to trigger a $1 million match from Boston community leaders Liz and George Krupp. The Krupps are contributing $1 for scholarships in the arts and humanities for every $2 raised for scholarships.

-- Alumni from the 11 Reunion classes (1955, ’60, ’65, ’70, ’75, ’80, ’85, ’90, ’95, ’00, and ’05) made gifts totaling nearly $3 million. The Class of 1975 established a new high for a 35th Reunion ($1.6 million).

-- The Class of 2010 made a gift of $12,238, the third-largest Senior Class gift in school history.

-- More and more Brandeis donors went online to make their gifts. An all-time high of 1,891 donors gave a record $557,274, more than double the online total just three years ago.

-- The ongoing Campaign for Brandeis has raised $894 million, 73 percent of the way toward its $1.22 billion goal. Brandeis is the country’s youngest private college or university to launch a $1 billion campaign.

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