Erskine Annual Fund giving exceeds goal, tops $1.7 million

Alumni and friend generosity exceeded expectations

The Erskine Advancement Office announced today that giving to the Erskine Annual Fund in 2014-15 exceeded the goal by more than $100,000.

The final number will not be determined until July 6th, but as of June 30 (the last day of the fiscal year) the Erskine Annual Fund stood at $1,710,000 making this the most successful year in unrestricted annual giving in recent memory.

“This year’s $1.6 million goal was a key part of President Kooistra’s two-year financial stability plan,” according to David Earle, vice president for advancement.

“People gave so generously, we not only met the goal, we greatly surpassed it,” Earle said. “On behalf of the Erskine faculty, staff and students, we would like to thank our alumni, friends, churches, foundations, and organizations for all they have done to help achieve this very important goal!”

The Erskine Annual Fund is the unrestricted giving category that goes directly toward operations and represents approximately five percent of Erskine’s annual budget. “The Erskine Annual Fund underwrites many institutional scholarships, thus directly supporting our students,” Earle said.

Increased donor participation

Overall giving, including restricted gifts and Flying Fleet, stands at $2.15 million for the year. In addition to the success in dollars given, the number of donors increased in several key categories. For the first time in several years, the total number of alumni giving increased by seven percent.

Other categories that saw significant increases in total number of donors were:

• Non-ARP churches (300%)
• ARP congregations (243%)
• Businesses (140%)
• Foundations (89%)
• Friends (27%)

Buddy Ferguson, director of alumni affairs, added his own message of thanks: “Erskine has been honored this year by exceptional support. The call for giving has been answered in numbers that exceeded the expectations of many. Thanks to you all. You are answers to prayer.”