NC State’s Strong Fundraising Momentum Continues

This story is part of the August 2019 Campaign newsletter. Continue reading to learn more about the extraordinary ways philanthropy transforms NC State.

After another outstanding year of fundraising, NC State is closing in on the $1.6 billion goal of its Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign.

Students, faculty, programs and facilities across the university will benefit from $220 million in new gifts and pledges received during the 2018-19 fiscal year that ended June 30. Through July 31, the Campaign had raised almost 98 percent of its goal, or $1.57 billion, including: 

• $748.9 million toward the $800 million goal for endowment
• $604.6 million toward the $600 million goal for current operations
• $212.7 million toward the $200 million goal for facilities

The Campaign launched publicly in October 2016 and is set to run through December 2021.

The year’s private support total continues the strong momentum of the previous two fiscal years, when NC State recorded giving of $224 million (2016-17) and $215.4 million (2017-18), respectively.

“We’re building a stronger NC State and have tremendous momentum thanks to donor support,” said Brian Sischo, vice chancellor for university advancement. “Our alumni and friends are energized and excited about this university’s mission and have invested generously in our students, faculty, research and physical campus. Extraordinary things happen when we match our donors’ philanthropic interests with emerging needs.”

During the Campaign, donors have created some 1,945 new funds, designated to areas ranging from scholarships to leadership programs to libraries.

“Our donors are truly supporting their passions by directing their gifts to funds across our colleges and units,” Sischo said.

Highlighting 2018-19 was the $28 million naming gift from alumnus Fred E. Wilson Jr. and family to the Wilson College of Textiles.

“This is a historic day for NC State and a truly transformational gift for the College of Textiles,” Chancellor Randy Woodson said when that gift was announced Nov. 2. “We are tremendously grateful to Fred Wilson and the Wilson family for their investment in our students, our faculty and our land-grant mission. Their amazing generosity means that the Wilson College of Textiles – the only college of textiles in the nation – will continue to be a vital, vibrant leader in education, discovery and practical application of innovation for years to come.”

Other highlights included the creation of 125 new scholarships and fellowships (636 total during the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign), and the establishment of six new distinguished professorships. Of 234 endowed faculty positions campuswide, 82 have been created during this Campaign.

Gifts during the fiscal year named the James T. Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum and the Albright Sports Medicine Center within the Wendell H. Murphy Football Center.

Showing the largest percentage increases from the previous giving year were the College of Veterinary Medicine (up 88% to $25.4 million) and College of Design (up 62% to $3.56 million). The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences garnered the largest total of private support at $42.2 million.

NC State’s highly successful first Day of Giving, which was held March 27, generated $13.5 million in just 24 hours through 10,810 gifts. The second Day of Giving is planned for March 25.

Overall, the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign has inspired support from 87,655 donors, who hail from all 100 counties of North Carolina, all 50 states and 66 foreign countries.

This fiscal year featured strong increases in faculty and staff donors, from nearly 900 donors to more than 1,200, and in first-time donors, from 4,220 to a record high of 6,900.

For the second straight fiscal year, more than 1,000 current students made a gift to support an area of the university. 

Learn more about the Campaign and how you can get involved at campaign.ncsu.edu.