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New Record for Giving for Duke

2006-07 gifts total more than $380 million

Duke University received $380,059,931 in philanthropic gifts between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2007, eclipsing by approximately 11 percent the previous year's record total of $341.9 million.

Gifts came from about 98,000 donors, nearly 41,000 of them Duke alumni.

"Duke is a wonderful university, to a great extent due to the loyalty and generosity of its alumni and other donors," said President Richard H. Brodhead. "I am deeply grateful for their support, as I know are the students, faculty members, physicians and staff who so greatly benefit from it."

More than $80 million of the total was directed to support student scholarships, the great majority for Duke's Financial Aid Initiative, which stands at about three-quarters of its $300 million goal for new scholarship endowment. Approximately 45 percent of Duke undergraduates receive financial support; about 40 percent receive need-based aid.

The initiative, launched by Brodhead in December 2005, provides continuing support for the university's policy of admitting U.S. undergraduates based on their academic accomplishments and potential without regard to their ability to pay, and of then meeting all of their demonstrated financial need. Only about two dozen private institutions in the nation maintain "need-blind" policies for admissions and financial aid. Duke also provides need-based aid to a limited number of international students.

Duke's Annual Fund, supported by about 45,000 alumni, parents and friends, exceeded its previous year's total for the 32nd consecutive time with more than $26.5 million. Annual Fund gifts provide the unrestricted operating support that helps pay for a wide range of ongoing needs and new initiatives across Duke's schools and programs.

The Duke Endowment, the Charlotte-based charitable trust created by university founder James B. Duke, was the university's largest single donor, giving $74.7 million for a variety of purposes, including scholarships, academic and community outreach programs and DukeEngage, the university's new initiative that will support all undergraduates who want to apply their classroom learning to addressing societal issues at home and abroad.

Robert S. Shepard, vice president for alumni affairs and development, thanked Duke donors and said their support represents both their optimism and belief in the university's future.

"This has been a historic year for Duke in many ways," he said. "We thank every single one of the close to 100,000 donors for continuing to invest in the programs and people that distinguish Duke -- from the talented undergraduate on financial aid to the research scientist working toward the next medical breakthrough."

The more than $380 million represents philanthropic dollars received during the 2007 fiscal year, not pledges.