Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement at EMU, gives an upbeat report of donor giving during the past year at a faculty- staff “New Year’s Breakfast” that welcomed the 2006-07 fiscal year. Eastern Mennonite University has received $6,585,205 in total contributions for the 2005-2006 fiscal year ending June 30, a 24 percent increase, or $1,293,843 more than last year.
Kirk L. Shisler, vice president for advancement, reported that contributions of $1,730,000 to the University Fund set a new record, surpassing the 2005 annual fund total of $1,591,000 by more than eight percent. The University Fund supports student financial aid, funds for Eastern Mennonite Seminary and other program budgets and the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP), Shisler noted.
Support for EMU’s undergraduate and graduate programs included endowment giving of $1,651,000 and bequests and restricted grants of $3,154,000, Shisler noted. The increase by more than $1 million in endowment support “was largely the result of three major gifts to establish endowments for undergraduate faculty release time, the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Eastern Mennonite Seminary,” he said.
Giving by EMU alumni continued to increase both in total giving – $2,981,878 compared to $1,995,475 in 2004-05 – and in the number of donors at the $1,000-plus level, Shisler said.
Included in the giving totals are gifts from 175 EMU faculty and staff who supported the university with contributions of more than $112,000.
“In a host of unique ways, EMU donors have responded with a resounding ‘Yes’! to our persistent, and hopefully gracious, invitations to join with the university in its transformative work,” Shisler said.
“EMU is blessed with the support of many alumni and friends who care deeply about our mission,” said President Loren Swartzendruber. “Our intent is to be good stewards of the investments donors make toward the education of our students. In addition to signficant financial support, we value the prayers of God’s people on our behalf.”