Record-breaking year in philanthropy among UT System institutions
AUSTIN - Confidence in the national economy might still be a little shaky, but thanks to the generosity of many, University of Texas System institutions hit new highs in fiscal year 2012.
Overall giving of more than $1.2 billion -- in the form of gifts, pledges, and testamentary commitments -- supported the mission of UT institutions during fiscal year 2012. Of that amount, $800 million was in cash. Some 220,000 alumni, other individuals, corporations, foundations and organizations made gifts to advance institutional priorities benefitting students, faculty, research, programs and facilities. Leading the way among 15 UT institutions was UT Austin, which received an impressive $335.3 million in overall giving and UT MD Anderson with $294.2 million.
Fundraising results for cash received exceeded the previous five-year average for UT Institutions by 12.2 percent and surpassed last year’s results by 7.7 percent. On the national level, UT institutions collectively ranked second in giving among public university systems.
“It is both gratifying and remarkable that the UT System recorded its highest level of philanthropic support,” said External Relations Vice Chancellor Randa Safady. “We are thankful to the generous benefactors and their ongoing investment in the future of Texas. They are truly making a difference, and we are committed to being good stewards of the resources entrusted to UT institutions.”
Safady will present a report detailing the fiscal year 2012 philanthropic activity across the System to the UT System Board of Regents during a regular board meeting in Austin on Thursday. The development review serves as a tool for the System to ensure that institutions are provided with resources and strategies to maximize their success.
Philanthropy is an important part of UT System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa’s Framework for Advancing Excellence, and the development review provides the Regents with pertinent fundraising results, trends, and analyses. In recent years the UT System Board of Regents and institutions have made additional investments in fundraising programs, with an emphasis on increasing the role that philanthropy plays in a university’s overall expenditures.
“Philanthropy is critical to advancing excellence across our mission at UT System institutions and I could not be more grateful to our generous donors for the support they provide,” Cigarroa said. “The fact that UT supporters continue to give – and give at higher levels than ever before – speaks volumes about their dedication to UT students and to the state of Texas.”
About The University of Texas System
Educating students, providing care for patients, conducting groundbreaking research and serving the needs of Texans and the nation for more than 130 years, The University of Texas System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States, with nine academic universities, six health institutions and a fall 2012 enrollment of roughly 216,000. The UT System confers more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees and educates nearly three-fourths of the state’s health care professionals annually. The UT System has an annual operating budget of $13.9 billion (FY 2013) including $3.1 billion in sponsored programs funded by federal, state, local and private sources. With more than 87,000 employees, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state.
