29,000 givers help USU top its $200 million goal

One year from the announcement of a major capital campaign at Utah State University, President Stan L. Albrecht announced the school has surpassed its ambitious $200 million goal.

"We have exceeded our initial goal of $200 million, and we're not turning back," Albrecht told an audience at the school's 120th birthday celebration. "It's been a very good year. We have announced one transformational gift after another. We have done things — with your help — that will propel Utah State to heights we have not yet imagined."

In addition to several major contributions, the school accepted donations from more than 29,000 individuals — at least 11,500 of whom gave money to the university for the first time.

"Those are the numbers that really jump out at you. Those are the exciting numbers," he said. Most of the individual donations, which helped to increase the funds raised to $202.8 million, go to grow the school's endowment. What the state does not end up funding for the research institution, the endowment helps to supplement, Albrecht said.

"The big gifts we have received are making a huge difference for the university, but many of those projects — important as they are — will build buildings and enhance programs," he said. "The most pressing need as the campaign moves forward is building our endowment, which provides ongoing support year in and year out for our best students and professors."

Following the commencement of the campaign in July 2003, and the official announcement last March, Albrecht took the university's campaign national, hosting alumni get-togethers across the country.

"We had a significant number of people attend those events who have not been involved with Utah State since they graduated," Albrecht said. "They've come back, they've reconnected."

At least 85 endowment positions have been created with help from the smaller gifts to the university in the past year. The school's ability to create sustainable support for students and faculty, through scholarships and endowed chair positions, will partly determine its competitiveness in the future.

The larger gifts help fund projects not funded by the state and are spendable upon receipt to build facilities and create new programs.

A $26 million gift from Jon M. and Karen Huntsman will give the College of Business a much-needed upgrade, complete with a name change. With a $15 million gift, Marc and Debbie Bingham made it possible to build a technology center on the school's Uintah Basin campus.