Private gifts and pledges to the University of Georgia in fiscal year 1996 totalled more than $33.6 million, Donald Eastman, vice president for development and university relations, told the Foundation Board of Trustees at their meeting in Athens this month.
This is a two percent increase over the previous year and marks the seventh consecutive year that private giving has exceeded $30 million.
Private gifts and pledges are new commitments made to the university in the past fiscal year.
A total of 44,991 donors supported UGA financially during the year. Funds raised through the Annual Fund program, which solicits some 180,000 potential donors, increased to $4.4 million, and the average Annual Fund gift rose from $123 to $135.
Eastman says the consistent growth in private giving reflects continued momentum from UGA's Third Century Capital Campaign, which ran from 1989 to 1993 and raised more than $151 million. He says giving typically declines following a major fund-raising drive, but this is the third straight year UGA has sustained the giving level of the campaign.
"The University of Georgia is exceedingly fortunate to have many loyal and generous supporters who are committed to the goal of excellence in teaching, research and public service," says Eastman. "We are especially grateful to the trustees of the University of Georgia Foundation, and to our dedicated professional development staff, for their leadership and hard work in attaining this success."
The Georgia Scholastic Educational Fund, which provides athletic scholarships, received $6.4 million--a 10 percent increase over the previous year.
Contributions through the University of Georgia Foundation rose by 33 percent, from $11.7 million to $15.6 million.
The number of donors making gifts of $10,000 or more increased from 135 to 167.