Donations to YSU Annual Fund reach record high

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Giving to the Youngstown State University’s Annual Fund has reached a record high this year.

The campaign, which raises money for a variety of college and departmental programs and initiatives as well as student scholarships, brought in $1.68 million from more than 4,000 donors in fiscal year 2011, according to preliminary counts by the Office of University Development.

That’s an all-time high for the university and represents a 16-percent increase over the previous year. In the last eight years alone, the fund has nearly quadrupled.

“People throughout the campus and the community believe in the mission of YSU, and they want YSU to succeed,” said Jacci Daniel-Johnson, coordinator of annual giving. “When it comes to donations, people want to give to successful and positive ventures. Success follows success.”

It is the fourth-consecutive year that the Annual Fund has surpassed $1 million, a mark that Daniel-Johnson said seemed unattainable only a few years ago.

“Now, and going forward, we see $1 million as our base — something we can build on,” she said.

The Annual Fund solicits contributions from alumni and supporters throughout the state, region and nation.

“Our donors are encouraged to direct their philanthropy to the programs of their choice, and they take full advantage of this opportunity,” said Catherine Cala, director of University Development. “More than 95 percent of YSU’s annual gifts are donor-designated.”

Money is used to fund scholarships and dozens of campus programs and initiatives, from the English Festival, the Center for Judaic and Holocaust Studies and ROTC to the Steel Bridge/Concrete Canoe teams, Center for Nonprofit Leadership and the SMARTS program. It also provides money to various athletics teams, including track and field, golf and tennis, as well as academic departments.

Contributions by YSU faculty and staff alone accounted for nearly 10 percent of the total giving in fiscal year 2011 at $131,472.That’s nearly double the amount donated by faculty and staff just three years ago. Daniel- Johnson said one reason for the increase in faculty/staff giving was the establishment of a scholarship by new YSU President Cynthia E. Anderson in memory of her parents. In all, the Annual Fund raised $52,165 for the scholarship.

Daniel-Johnson said increasing Annual Fund giving – and hitting the $1 million level – was a major goal of the Centennial Capital Campaign that started in 2005. That, she said, made the Annual Fund a priority and has led to the increases.

“Our message is clear and consistent,” she said. “We don’t over-solicit, so we don’t experience donor fatigue.

“We have a good fund-raising philosophy.”