Durham, N.C. - Duke University received $275,815,542 in charitable gifts during the 2004-05 fiscal year. Gifts came from 100,031 donors, including 44,938 alumni.

The total is an increase of approximately $19 million, or 7.4 percent, over the previous year, and the third largest cash total in Duke history.

"Among the many things that drew me to Duke are the loyalty and spirit of its supporters," said Duke President Richard H. Brodhead, who became the university's ninth president in July 2004.  "Duke donors are a primary reason that our university has always had the character of a rising school, and they give us great confidence that it will continue to have that character."

The Duke Endowment of Charlotte, the charitable trust created by university founder James B. Duke, was the largest single donor, with gifts totaling nearly $38 million for a variety of purposes, including scholarships and academic and community outreach programs.

Duke's Annual Fund, supported by more than 44,000 alumni, parents and friends, set a new record with $23.1 million.

Robert S. Shepard, who became Duke's vice president for alumni affairs and development on July 1, called the performance "very encouraging, particularly as we seek to build greater support for Duke's most compelling need, financial aid for students." 

Shepard said the university would emphasize scholarship support as its top fund-raising priority in 2005-06.

The $275.8 million represents dollars received during the year, not pledges. Duke's two higher annual philanthropic giving totals came in 2002-03 ($296.8 million) and 1999-2000 ($302.6 million), both during the 1996-2003 Campaign for Duke, which raised more than $2 billion in gifts and pledges.