Portland State Magazine Fall 2013

FALL 2013 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 17 FROM SMALL monthly gifts to large lump sums, alumni contributed more than $7.8 million to the University in fiscal year 2013. This outpouring of support will help fund scholar- ships, capital improvements, academic programs and more. “We are so thankful for our generous alumni,” says President Wim Wiewel. “They know the value of their education at PSU and, by giving back, they help others experience it too.” More than 6,400 alumni—representing 61 percent of all donors—gave to the University in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. Other donors included faculty, staff, students, parents, businesses, foundations, and friends. Momentum is growing. PSU fundraising has more than doubled over the last three years, from $12.8 million in fiscal year 2010 to a record $29.3 million in 2013. “Our donors care about PSU’s ability to deliver excellence in education and maintain access for all. We are grateful for their support and for the increased number of donors,” says Françoise Aylmer, vice president for University Advancement. WITH NEARLY 30,000 students, Portland State enrolls and graduates more students than any other university in Oregon. Yet state funding provides less than 20 percent of PSU’s budget, increasing the burden on tuition and private gifts. Currently, scholarships and capital projects are top fundrais- ing priorities for the University. More than $7.6 million, or 26 percent of gifts, were for scholarships and student aid in fis- cal year 2013. This includes one gift of $1.5 million, the largest gift to scholarships in PSU history. PSU raised seven gifts of $1 million or more during the year—another University record. Thirty-five percent of gifts were dedicated to capital projects, including $5 million from an anonymous donor for the Viking Pavilion and Academic Center, a project to renovate PSU’s existing Stott athletic facility with academic areas and a 5,500-seat arena for University and community use. Arlene Schnitzer contributed $2.3 million to the College of the Arts for a three-story “glass tower” with visible art gallery and studio spaces on the Broadway side of Lincoln Hall. In addition to the record $29.3 million in gifts, PSU raised $9 million in conditional pledges, including $7 million from a local MBA alumnus and his wife for the School of Business Administration building project. (These donors also gave $1 million to the project in a previous year.) The University plans to triple the size of its business school building, adding classrooms and making other improvements. In June, the Oregon Legislature approved bonds of $40 million for the business school project and $24 million for the Viking Pavilion project (see story on page 7).  Giving Gifts more than double in three years