By Gregory A. Volk
Vice-President for Development and External Affairs
For the third consecutive year, a new fund-raising record was established for Lawrence University in 1999-2000. Contributions from private sources* totaled $21,219,444, a 25 percent increase over last year's $16,972,817. The extraordinary generosity of the college's benefactors is a major factor in the growing stature of this institution and the remarkable accomplishments and achievements of its faculty and students.
The sole purpose of Lawrence's development program is to provide the college with the necessary financial resources for the conduct of its mission. Still, we were pleased this year to have our efforts in that direction receive national recognition. The Council for Advancement and Support of Education named Lawrence as one of only six liberal arts colleges to receive its 2000 Circle of Excellence Award for superior overall performance in a fund-raising program. Lawrence shares this honor with Amherst, Middlebury, Oberlin, Smith, and Wellesley Colleges. We are mindful, however, that any fund-raising success stems entirely from the strong and abiding philanthropic support of Lawrence's alumni, parents, and other friends, and thus the CASE award principally recognizes their continuing generosity.
Uses of Funds Received
Of the $21.2 million total, $2,914,484 was received for The Lawrence Fund (operating support); $13,737,933 was designated for the endowment; $292,528 represents life-income gifts; $586,961 was received for restricted current gifts; $100,778 is temporarily undesignated; and $3,562,307 was directed toward the physical plant.
The Lawrence Fund
Gifts to The Lawrence Fund also set a new record, exceeding its $2.4 million goal by raising $2,914,484, a 10 percent increase over the previous year. With other budget-balancing gifts, the development program secured a total of $2,938,622 for current operations.
Always the principal factor in the success of The Lawrence Fund is the strong support of members of The Founders Club. This past year, Founders Club members contributed $1,703,495 to The Lawrence Fund, 58 percent of total Lawrence Fund receipts. Of special note, gifts to The Lawrence Fund from the college's current and emeriti trustees also set a new record, with gifts totaling $506,886. The new $25,000 giving level in our Founders Club -- Lawrencium -- was launched to good and great effect, with 13 individuals making exceedingly generous annual gifts at that level.
Gifts to the Boynton Society, which provides operating funds for the college's northern campus at Björklunden, reached $124,000, a 28 percent increase.
Thirty percent of the parents of current Lawrence students made Lawrence Fund gifts; overall, support from former and current parents to The Lawrence Fund totaled $203,875, a 30 percent increase.
In spite of a record-setting year in The Lawrence Fund, we did slip a bit in the alumni donor-participation rate, from 50.1 percent in fiscal 1999 to 48.9 percent in fiscal 2000, a loss of 273 alumni donors. We hope to return to the 50th percentile in the year ahead.
The 50th, 40th, 25th, and 10th reunion classes contributed handsomely to this year's Lawrence Fund. Special thanks must be extended to members of the Class of 1950, as they raised more than $1 million (in planned and Lawrence Fund gifts), the first time that a reunion class gift at Lawrence has crossed the million dollar mark.
Endowment
The greatest fund-raising achievement of the past year was in endowment giving. Lawrence's endowment climbed to $185 million as of June 30. A major factor in that growth was the receipt of $13.7 million in gifts for endowment, eclipsing last year's then record-setting total of $6.2 million by 121 percent. The principal factor both in endowment gift income and in total gift income was the receipt of an $8 million trust from Ethel M. Barber, Milwaukee-Downer Class of 1934 and a trustee emerita of the college. Dr. Barber's gift establishes an endowment for theatre and arts programs and is the largest single gift in Lawrence's history. In addition, the college also received a number of significant bequests and outright gifts for the endowment that established or augmented some 37 endowed funds.
Physical Plant
Gifts to the plant fund totaled $3.6 million, substantially less than last year's $6.9 million. This came about because a number of major gifts were received last year for Science Hall, but we did not receive comparable gifts for bricks and mortar projects in 1999-2000. We received $2,616,605 in gifts for Science Hall, $194,000 for Briggs Hall, $25,000 for Björklunden, $200,000 for Memorial Chapel renovations, and $450,000 for Main Hall renovations.
Science Hall was dedicated on October 19, 2000. This spectacular building was made possible through the generous support of many donors, but we are particularly grateful to trustees Kim Hiett Jordan, '58; Cynthia Stiehl, C '89; Edie Andrew, and Judi Paul, as well as to our good friend, Jane Herzog, for their leadership support of this important project.
Pledges
Of the $21.2 million received during 1999-2000, $2,350,500 arrived in the form of payments on pledges made during prior fiscal years. During 1999-2000, Lawrence booked new pledge commitments worth $2,122,994. Total pledge expectancies stood at $4.68 million as of June 30, 2000.
During 1999-2000, Lawrence achieved a new record in overall support, due to the generosity of alumni, parents, and friends -- which has long been instrumental in the quality and vitality of the college. After three record-setting years, it may seem a daunting challenge to continue on this upward trajectory. We remain convinced, however, that enabling Lawrence to prosper and grow in conducting its mission of liberal arts education will require an even greater reliance on the support of those who know the college best. We hope to continue to merit such strong support in the future. In the meantime, we remain deeply grateful for the extraordinary generosity and loyalty of Lawrence's donor constituencies in this past year.
* Although the figures here presented are in compliance with standards adopted by CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) and NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers), they differ from the presentation of gift income in the college's financial report. This development report includes both gifts and payments on pledges received during 1999-2000 but excludes new pledges received during the fiscal year. Financial statement gift income, on the other hand, augments these numbers by the value of new pledges received during the year and reduces them by the value of payments made on pledges received in prior fiscal years.