Posted February 15, 2000

IOWA CITY -- Total private gift productivity recorded by the University of Iowa Foundation and the University of Iowa exceeded $147 million during calendar year 1999, an all-time high and nearly 19 percent above the 1998 figure of $123.6 million.

In announcing the 1999 fund-raising performance figures, UI Foundation President Michael J. New thanked contributors for their generosity at all levels. "Our record-setting year in 1999 came as a result of gifts large and small, and every one of them matters," New said.

"While the UI Foundation will maintain and even increase its focus on leadership gifts in the years ahead, we continue to rely upon and sincerely appreciate contributions at all levels," he continued. "The size of the gift doesn't always reflect the size of the commitment, and judging from our 1999 fund-raising results, the commitment to the UI on the part of our alumni and friends has never been stronger."

Outright gifts to the UI Foundation in 1999 totaled $57.2 million, while outright gifts received directly by the university totaled $25.2 million. In addition, future commitments made to the foundation in the form of trusts, bequests, pledges to be paid in future years and other forms of deferred income totaled $64.6 million. When these figures are combined, the private funds generated for the UI last year totaled $147 million, $23.4 million more than in 1998.

Other highlights:

• The $57.2 million received in outright gifts by the foundation in 1999 ($5 million more than in 1998) came from 48,017 contributors, including $26,793,067 from 25,899 alumni; $11,774,491 from 20,131 non-alumni; and $18,661,195 from 1,987 businesses, foundations and other organizations.
• Of the $57.2 million outright gift total, 17.3 percent was designated by contributors for student financial aid; 21.5 percent for buildings and equipment; 14.8 percent for faculty development; 44.9 percent for collegiate, departmental, research and special project funds; and 1.5 percent for unrestricted use (wherever the need is greatest).
• The $64.6 million in future commitments recorded in 1999 is $16.5 million more than in 1998, an increase of more than 34 percent.
• Nearly 13,000 contributors gave to the foundation twice or more during the year, bringing the total number of individual gifts received to 74,283.
• Alumni and friends in every state and from 33 other countries sent gifts to the UI Foundation in 1999.

Contact Information

Michael New
President, The University of Iowa Foundation
(319) 335-3305 or (800) 648-6973