University, KSU Foundation receive fundraising award
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015
Kansas State University Foundation President and CEO Greg Willems, left, and Kansas State University President Kirk Schulz hold the 2015 Council for Advancement and Support of Education's Fundraising Award, which recognizes the university's and foundation's efforts to boost philanthropic gifts and commitments to the university. | Download the following photo.
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University and the Kansas State University Foundation have received national recognition for overall improvement in fundraising from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, or CASE.
The university was one of five higher education institutions recognized in this category among public research/doctoral institutions with endowments over $250 million. The award selection is based on data submitted to the Council for Aid to Education's annual Voluntary Support of Education survey.
In fiscal year 2015, philanthropic gifts and commitments by alumni, friends, parents, faculty, students and corporate partners of Kansas State University totaled $141.5 million. This level of philanthropic support marks the third most successful year in charitable giving in the more than 70-year history of the KSU Foundation, and the fourth consecutive year fundraising has topped $100 million.
"Some years back, there was a focused effort to reorganize some aspects of how the KSU Foundation serves K-State," said Greg Willems, president and CEO of KSU Foundation. "The goal was to reposition the foundation to address a significantly increasing need for resources to support the K-State 2025 vision and close the comparative resource gap between K-State and peer institutions. Thanks to the K-State administration and deans' commitment to partner with the foundation, we've maintained a three-year fundraising average in excess of $167 million. We are honored that CASE has recognized our successful efforts with this award."
Kansas State University President Kirk Schulz appreciates the recognition for the foundation and all who support the university.
"As state funds become a smaller percentage of our overall budget, the KSU Foundation has intensified its efforts to increase the amount of philanthropic dollars coming to K-State," Schulz said. "This award from CASE not only recognizes the impressive work of the foundation, but also honors all the generous donors who support our university. As we build on the successful fundraising of the past few years, we move ever closer to reaching our goal to be recognized as a top 50 public research university by 2025."
Philanthropic contributions to Kansas State University are coordinated by the KSU Foundation. The foundation staff works with university partners to build lifelong relationships with alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students through involvement and investment in the university.
