Friday, Feb. 8, 2019

NDSU Foundation Reports Strong Philanthropic Support in 2018

Fargo, N.D. - North Dakota State University’s alumni and friends donated more than $48 million in private support through the NDSU Foundation and Alumni Association last year. With current and deferred gift commitments received in 2018, NDSU’s benefactors have set a five-year record of philanthropy by providing more than $228 million since 2014.

In 2018, NDSU benefactors provided $30.5 million in cash and pledges, including $886,000 in cash donations received during NDSU Giving Day and more than $385,000 raised during the annual Bison Bidders Bowl. The Foundation’s 2018 philanthropic support also included $17.6 million in deferred gift commitments.

“The generosity of our alumni, friends, businesses and charitable foundations makes a lasting impact in our students’ lives and the university’s ability to advance its mission,” NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani said. “We are grateful for their enduring support, and we are committed to building on the university’s strengths as a student-focused, land-grant, research university.”

Spencer and Carol Duin, of Asheville, N.C., were among NDSU’s major benefactors in 2018. The Duins established a faculty fellowship within the College of Engineering to advance research, educational programming and outreach. Spencer said his NDSU degree in industrial engineering “opened doors to many opportunities” during his distinguished career so they created the fellowship to support other students and to acknowledge the value of his NDSU education.

While increasing its endowment, which ensures a permanent, self-sustaining source of funding, the NDSU Foundation transferred more than $14.1 million to the university in 2018. The transferred funds, comprised of spendable endowment earnings and expendable funds, include about $6.4 million for building projects and equipment; more than $5 million to increase student scholarship opportunities (a record level); about $1.8 million to enhance educational programming and about $780,000 for faculty advancement.

The value of the NDSU Foundation’s permanent endowment totaled more than $207 million on Dec. 31, 2018, compared to about $201 million on Dec. 31, 2017.

Last year’s gifts represent transformational investments in NDSU students and faculty and include: the Freeman Family Scholarship Endowment, the Timothy Welch and Donna LaQua-Welch Engineering Fellowship and the Ron and Kaye Olson College of Business Deanship. NDSU faculty fellowships, professorships and deanships support advances in educational programs and enrich the university’s academic environment and stature, which attracts the brightest faculty and students. The funds propel research and discovery, support hands-on learning and enable NDSU faculty to collaborate with leading scholars around the world.

Sanford Health, Aldevron and many other supporters also continued to provide charitable support for the construction of Aldevron Tower, a six-story addition to Sudro Hall that will expand the College of Health Profession’s research capacity, nurture collaborative learning and bring together all of the college’s health care programs.

“NDSU benefactors are excited about the many advancements taking shape throughout the university and that excitement is reflected in their incredible generosity,” said Mike Krueger, chair of the NDSU Foundation’s executive governing board. “Moving forward, we expect private support to play an increasingly important part in a larger vision to strengthen students’ educational experiences and to build on the university’s distinguished research and outreach activities.”

Below are the NDSU Foundation’s fundraising totals for the past five years:
• 2018: $48.2 million
• 2017: $59.9 million
• 2016: $52.3 million
• 2015: $28.6 million
• 2014: $39.0 million

The NDSU Foundation builds enduring relationships that maximize advocacy and philanthropy in support of North Dakota State University.

For more information, contact Jeff Zent at 1-701-231-6809 or jeff@ndsualumni.com

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