Home » WKU reports $18.3M in private gifts in fiscal year 2014-15

WKU reports $18.3M in private gifts in fiscal year 2014-15

Second most raised in school history

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (Aug. 21, 2015) — Western Kentucky University announced today that it raised $18.3 million in private gifts during fiscal year 2014-15—the second-highest total in the University’s history.

wku“This kind of success comes because of dedicated staff, devoted alumni and friends, and a university that is worthy of support,” said Kathryn Costello, special advisor to the president. “Since President Gary Ransdell was appointed nearly 18 years ago, WKU has been on a positive trajectory. I believe we will continue to see strong philanthropic support because the return on investment is obvious across the campus.”

Points of interest for the 2014-2015 year include:

  • Second-largest year for total gifts, second only to $18.9 million raised in 2010
  • WKU’s combined endowment reached an all-time high of $143.7 million
  • Record year for gifts toward student scholarships, with $9.6 million raised — up 50 percent over last year
  • A total of $6.3 million in new gifts were made to WKU’s endowment — a 27 percent increase over last year
  • As of June 30, WKU’s deferred gift inventory of future estate gifts totaled nearly $100 million
  • The Annual Fund raised more than $7.3 million during the 2014-15 year from more than 30,000 gifts from 14,760 donors
  • A total of 2,435 individuals are members of the President’s Circle for fiscal year 2014-15, representing cumulative giving of $1,000 or more during the year
  • The Alumni Programming staff conducted 213 events and programs that impacted 25,836 alumni and friends