Duke
University received philanthropic contributions from a record 106,423 donors
between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011, and their gifts totaled $349,657,667,
the third highest cash total in Duke's history.
New
commitments for the year -- a combination of new gifts and new multi-year
pledges -- totaled $436 million, a 45 percent increase over the previous year.
Meanwhile,
the Duke Annual Fund set records for both the number of donors and the total
amount raised in 2010-11, with contributions from 46,705 alumni, parents,
students and friends totaling $27.9 million. Gifts to the Annual Fund provide
flexible operating support for Duke, which helps to cover the cost of financial
aid, faculty support, educational programming, and the operations of the
libraries, gardens, chapel and museum.
"The
tremendous devotion of Duke's supporters is both inspiring and humbling," said
Duke President Richard H. Brodhead. "Philanthropic support has played a
critical role in making Duke the university it is today, and the contributions
we received this year will benefit our campus and community well into the
future. I am deeply grateful to Duke's alumni and friends for their generosity
and for the opportunities that their gifts make possible."
The
Duke Endowment, the Charlotte-based charitable trust established by university
founder James B. Duke, was the largest single contributor to the university in
2010-11, giving more than $40 million to support the medical center, faculty
initiatives, outreach programs and other Duke priorities. In addition, The Duke
Endowment announced in March its intention to contribute $80 million over
several years. The commitment is the largest in Duke's history, and will be
used to transform the student union and renovate two landmark facilities --
Page Auditorium on West Campus and Baldwin Auditorium on East Campus.
Other
significant multi-year commitments announced in 2010-11 include a $6 million
grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to revitalize humanities education;
a $15 million commitment to the School of Nursing from Duke alumnus J. Michael
Pearson in honor of his wife, Christine; and a $10 million commitment from the
Wallace H. Coulter Foundation to endow the Duke Coulter Translational Partnership
in biomedical engineering.
After
three consecutive record-breaking years, culminating with a $386 million cash
total in 2007-08 as Duke's Financial Aid Initiative was nearing its conclusion,
contributions fell to $302 million in 2008-09. Giving rebounded to $346 million
in 2009-10 and continued upward in 2010-11.
"Philanthropic
support from alumni and friends makes so much possible at Duke," said Robert S.
Shepard, vice president for alumni affairs and development. "These gifts help
sustain our core commitments, such as financial aid, and allow the university
to continue its forward momentum – from recruiting top faculty and students to
creating new programs in response to a changing world."