Alumni donations have increased by $15 million over the past year, from $5.2 million in the 2008-2009 fiscal year to $20.2 million in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
In 2008, $14.6 million in donations was received.
In 2009 just over 4,250 alumni donated and in 2010 over 5,130 alumni donated.
These numbers represent the collections the university took in. Collections are the combined amount of gifts, or immediate monetary contributions, and pledge payments, or the payments of monetary contributions that alumni had promised to the university in the past.
The commitments to the university are calculated separately from collections. These include the immediate monetary gifts and pledges for future giving. This category of donations also increased during 2010.
In the 2009 fiscal year over 3,510 alumni donated just under $15 million in commitments. In 2010 more than 4,815 alumni donated $25.1 million in commitments.
This 2010 commitment number is lower than two years ago, when alumni donated $30.3 million.
These numbers only reflect the giving of alumni, and do not take into account that of friends of the university, parents of students or other parties.
The drop in donations during 2009 can be heavily attributed to the country’s economic downturn, said Adam Cermak, deputy vice chancellor and chief of staff in University Advancement.
“The economy absolutely was a significant factor in fundraising, not just here at Denver, but across the philanthropic field,” he said.
University Advancement is the department tasked with collecting and recording donations. It will continue to work to increase donations in 2011.
“We remain very focused on raising support with a particular focus on raising scholarship dollars,” said Cermak.
Donations to the university go towards scholarships, as well as facilities, faculty support and program improvements.
Drake Carpenter, who graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, does not plan to donate to DU.
He feels the university spent his tuition money irresponsibly while he was here.
“I feel like they have charged my family enough money, and spend it in irresponsible ways. I am all for a beautiful campus, but copper roofing, siding and such are just ways to say ‘look at our money’ instead of saying, ‘look at what we have done for our students,'” said Carpenter.
Abhi Ramaswami, who graduated in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology, has not yet donated to DU, but said she probably would in the future.
Ramaswami said she would be more likely to donate in five or 10 years, and possibly when the economy is better.
“I could see myself donating to DU in at least 10 years from now. I would most likely donate to Olin Hall, Mudd, or John Greene since I enjoyed my time spent at DU as a molecular biology major, and I definitely feel like those older buildings could use some reconstruction,” she said.
