Above and Beyond

MTSU supporters surpass giving record to sustain success

Editor's Letter by Drew Ruble

Because of stagnation in state funding over the years, perhaps even more so for universities like MTSU that have a higher percentage of first-generation college students who rely more on scholarships to complete their educations, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee has 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 represents a 50% increase over 2021. And it is easily the biggest fundraising year the University has ever had, according to Joe Bales, vice president for university advancement—more than $3 million above our previous record year.

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 MT 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.

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.

What moved the needle? Bales credited alumni for realizing how challenging it is for young people today to pay for college and persist to degree attainment. He also stated his belief that the alumni population believes MTSU is headed in a positive direction, “and they want to be a part of it.”

Bales added that MTSU’s development staff does an excellent job of encouraging people (if they wish) to designate specifically where their donations will go.

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. The board elected a new president, Ronald Roberts (’84, ’91), and appointed four new alumni trustees.

We’ve got eyes and ears out in the community advocating for us," Bales said of the Foundation trustees along with the MTSU Alumni Association Board of Directors, ". . . talking about things that are going on at the University.

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

For more information about the Development Office and the MTSU Foundation, or to make a gift yourself, visit mtsu.edu/development.