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8/29/08

New Fund-Raising Records Set By St. Lawrence University

CANTON - St. Lawrence University set a new gift income record for the third straight year, with gift income totaling $23,885,029 for fiscal year 2007-2008, which ended June 30, 2008. The total is a 4 percent increase from 2006-07, also a record-setting year.

Gifts to the St. Lawrence Fund, which represents gifts from alumni, parents and friends in support of the University's ongoing operations, increased 5 percent to $5,325,555, from 9,845 donors. The number of donors showed a slight increase over last year, by 137.

Other highlights of the year include:

- The Parents Fund also set a record, surpassing $800,000 for the first time ever, with a total of $881,531 from 1,387 families. This is a 24 percent increase in funds raised, a 12 percent increase in donors over last year.

- The Alumni Fund set a record as well, reaching $4,344,179 from 7,499 donors. The total raised represents a 2.4 percent increase, with overall participation from alumni increasing from 35 percent to 36 percent.

- The Momentum St. Lawrence campaign grew by $32.8 million in gifts and pledges, with $137.8 million at the end of June. The University is now more than half-way to meeting its goal of $200 million for the Momentum St. Lawrence campaign, which runs to December 31, 2010.

President Daniel F. Sullivan said, "Taken together, the record-setting results we have seen in both our admissions and in fund-raising are a powerful signal of how St. Lawrence is viewed today by its most important external constituencies. These are exciting and challenging times for St. Lawrence, and indeed, for all of American higher education, and I am extremely proud of our progress."

Most of the gifts to the St. Lawrence Fund are unrestricted, with the University able to use the income for annual expenses where needed. One area funded by those gifts is scholarship aid to students, many of whom are from the North Country.

In 2008-2009, approximately 309 students from the North Country counties of St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Franklin, Clinton and Essex will attend the University. Of those, 267 receive financial aid from the University's own resources, amounting to some $6.3 million. The average aid package for students from those counties is about $23,706.

Overall, some 78 percent of St. Lawrence students receive financial aid.

"Especially in light of the difficult economic environment in the last year, we are most pleased with our continued strong fund-raising results and grateful to all of our supporters," Vice President for University Advancement Michael P. Archibald said. "Most of these dollars come from outside of the North Country and allow the University to invest in our students, faculty and the community. Any time $24 million in gifts flows to Canton through St. Lawrence, or any other charitable organization, the entire community benefits."

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