Bucking a national trend for public institutions, gifts to the Longwood annual fund were higher in 2016 than in the previous eight years. The percentage of alumni donors significantly increased, as well.
Annual giving—which excludes bequests and encompasses activities such as telephone and online campaigns designed to encourage regular giving—totaled $1,219,689 for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2016. The alumni participation rate over the same period rose from 10.9 to 11.2 percent.
“Nationally, public institutions have seen those numbers decline or remain stagnant in recent years,” said Amy Harris ’14, director of university engagement. It’s very difficult to move that number, but that’s something we’re strongly focusing on.”
The recently formed Citizen Leader Society, which recognizes those who make annual gifts of $1,500 or greater, has 267 members.
“Citizen Leader Society members have a strong philanthropic investment in Longwood and are committed to our mission to develop citizen leaders,” said Kristina Easter, director of development for annual programs. “Their support is an outward display of their civic leadership in living the values that define a citizen leader.”
The number of total donors, 5,703, represented a 24 percent increase over 2015 and is the most since 2007. Total giving for fiscal 2016—including corporations and foundations—was $4.18 million.
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