ADVANCEMENT

For universities such as MTSU that have a higher percentage of first-generation college students who rely more on scholarships to complete their educations, I have consistently emphasized that gifts from our alumni and friends have become essential to our success.

Supporters of the University have clearly heard that message. MTSU boasted a record fundraising year for 2021–22, bringing in more than $17.2 million in private donations to support the University’s educational mission. This represented a 50% increase over 2021. And it was easily the biggest fundraising year the University has ever had—more than $3 million above our previous record year.

Here are some highlights:

• 20% increase in donor participation

• 7,600 donors (almost 1,000 more than the previous year)

• increase in giving for almost every academic college

• more than double the donations for the College of Liberal Arts in the past year

• record $8.9 million in cash gifts and 300% year-over-year growth for MTSU Athletics during the 2022 fiscal year as it launched its Build Blue campaign to upgrade athletics facilities

Considering the impacts of COVID, inflation, and a volatile stock market, the fact that MTSU was able to reach such a remarkable milestone is a testament to the dedication of our supporters, as well as the excellent work of MTSU’s University Advancement staff.

Helping shepherd all those fundraising dollars is the MTSU Foundation, managed by a volunteer Board of Trustees to oversee all private gifts to the University.

To say the least, we are incredibly grateful for the support and for the ever-growing sense of shared purpose and the palpable momentum that moves this great University forward.

The bottom line is that our ongoing fundraising is having a transformative effect on programs and students across campus.

We are incredibly grateful for the support and for the evergrowing sense of shared purpose and the palpable momentum that moves this great University forward.