Fueling dreams

L-R: Corman Franklin, Bevin Franklin, Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, Joyce Franklin, and Jerome Willingham. Photography by Ezekiel Best.

Boosting resources, fueling dreams

New fundraising efforts yield $1.7 million for FSU

A staff report

In addition to celebrating historic appropriations in the state budget, Fayetteville State University leaders closed out the calendar year by marking extremely successful and targeted advancement efforts. Since Chancellor Darrell T. Allison took office on March 15, 2021, fundraising efforts have yielded $1,718,047 in private philanthropy support.

What a difference those eight months have made. Last March, FSU ranked last among 16 UNC System schools in fundraising. Now, the university is poised to deploy extensive resources to advance programs and fuel dreams— for current and future Broncos alike.

Donations reflect the generosity and commitment of a broad range of FSU stakeholders. The $1.7 million sum represents 2,504 gifts in total, including 1,245 donations from alumni and 337 donations from faculty and staff. Corporations, foundations, and other private organizations provided additional support.

Such investment has the capacity to yield exponential dividends. It increases institutional resources, to be sure, but it also promotes and strengthens institutional sustainability. According to the University’s fundraising team, the success of a university is directly attributable to the support from alumni and friends, as well as the involvement from community partners and investors.

For their part, FSU donors understand the essential role they play in ensuring that opportunities are available to the next generation of college students— especially those whose hearts are set on attending an HBCU. “It is important to support HBCUs like FSU, and I do so with honor,” said former Notre Dame football head coach Tyrone Willingham. “Investing in an HBCU provides opportunities to students who look like me, who come from the same places as me.”

FSU wishes to express gratitude to all university donors, including the following corporations, foundations, and individuals:

» Lillian P. Willingham Endowed Scholarship: $351,700.30

» Anonymous: $282,000

» FedEx: $250,000

» Gary Ciccone: $150,000

» Truist Foundation: $30,000

» George Floyd Foundation: $25,000

» D.C. Alumni Chapter: $25,000