Donations to UM down $1.1M in fiscal year 2012

[UofMGrizFan]

http://billingsgazette.com/news/sta...cle_ed7ba8bb-90d8-50c9-8644-c016a0391f94.html

Donations to UM down $1.1M in fiscal year 2012

MISSOULA - The University of Montana reported Monday that it received $19.1 million in funding from Grizzly alumni, friends and foundations in fiscal year 2012, $1.1 million less than received the previous year.

Laura Brehm, president of the UM Foundation, said the money helps fund research and scholarships for service-minded students.

“Alumni and friends are passionate about supporting the university’s mission and they continue to do that even when times are tough,” Brehm said. “The financial markets are volatile and that affects giving.”

Brehm said the foundation received 14,000 individual gifts in fiscal year 2012, which ended on June 30.

Notable gifts included an anonymous $1 million challenge grant for research and monitoring at Flathead Lake, and a $2 million gift from the estate of Jim Auger to fund scholarships in the School of Business.

“Many of our most loyal donors showed their support by committing a portion of their estate to UM,” Brehm said. “This helps us secure the future of the university.”

Brehm said the Grizzly Scholarship Association also pledged $500,000 for matching funds to make improvements to UM’s athletic facilities.

She said the athletic department is working toward a $6 million goal for a new student athletic center, along with renovations to the weight room and locker room, and lights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Brehm said the foundation holds several targeted campaigns each year, including the Missoula Business Drive and a faculty giving campaign. Employees with the foundation travel nationally to meet with alumni and friends interested in supporting UM.

“We are especially grateful for gifts that are helping President Royce Engstrom and our deans move forward on their top priorities,” Brehm said.

 

[GrizPony]

They lost close to $2 million in the week after Pflu and O'Day were let go. They scurried to mitigate the loss but it looks like they didn't come close.

 

[MTOutsider]

Down 6% in this economy doesn't seem all that bad.

 

[tnt]

I wouldn't get too worked up....

2011 was a near record year at 20.2 million 2010 was only 14.2 million. FWIW GSA only raised 2 million in "gifts" and change last year, there was another 3.5 coming in as endowments through the Foundation. This is a gwen type article. It is about the Foundation "Grizzly Alumni" is a bit misleading.

We won't know the athletic dollars until September.

If they lost 2 million, it would be pretty close to a negative fund raising effort. To my knowledge the largest dollar amount comes from "seat premiums" are there any GSA seats empty????

 

[GrizPony]

No seats empty because real fans won't let the crap articles from Gwen detract from support of the team. However, money to the foundation has been impacted by the Engstrom Saudi coverup and "wag the dog" :thumb: firings.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

 

[Grizzoola]

However, money to the foundation has been impacted by the Engstrom Saudi coverup and "wag the dog" :thumb: firings.

Utterly stupid, speculative comment by one noted for same. :roll:

 

[GrizPony]

No actually based on conversations with individuals who work at the Foundation. They were told explicitly why some donations were being withdrawn, by the donors who withdrew their support. So, like usual, you are wrong and an ass.

 

[Grizbacker1]

They lost close to $2 million in the week after Pflu and O'Day were let go. They scurried to mitigate the loss but it looks like they didn't come close.

I don't know if you are talking foundation donors, but you are off base if you are saying it was all athletics. That figure was closer to 750,000 and 90% of it is back on board since the firings.

 

[GrizPony]

Not all athletics. The person I talked to said that close to $2 million was not coming back that had been pledged and was now withdrawn.

 

[BWahlberg]

They lost close to $2 million in the week after Pflu and O'Day were let go. They scurried to mitigate the loss but it looks like they didn't come close.

I don't know if you are talking foundation donors, but you are off base if you are saying it was all athletics. That figure was closer to 750,000 and 90% of it is back on board since the firings.

I believe GB1 - this $750,000 was in reference to the academic center alone. I'd heard that.

 

[Grizzoola]

No actually based on conversations with individuals who work at the Foundation. They were told explicitly why some donations were being withdrawn, by the donors who withdrew their support. So, like usual, you are wrong and an ass.

You didn't have to add that last sentence. But, you did, & says a lot about your character. Anyway, see this quote:

“Alumni and friends are passionate about supporting the university’s mission and they continue to do that even when times are tough,” Brehm said. “The financial markets are volatile and that affects giving.”

You chose to ignore, "times are tough." And, that financial markets are volatile and that affects giving. No, you're so ready to blame lack of support on Engstrom's decisions re: athletics that you overlook this. BTW, would you mind detailing "why some donations were being withdrawn?" Did the amount of those withdrawn donations account for the $1.1 million shortfall? Maybe they were withdrawn for other reasons. Please elucidate us.

 

[Bear Axed]

However, money to the foundation has been impacted by the Engstrom Saudi coverup and "wag the dog" :thumb: firings.

Utterly stupid, speculative comment by one noted for same. :roll:

An idiot that doesn't like being called names after calling someone else stupid?

:ditto:

 

[Tod]

So they're still working on getting lights for the stadium, huh?

 

[Spanky]

....doesn't look like tnt's boy, Engstrom is setting any fund raising records. Maybe he wasn't the South Dakota whiz kid tnt mentioned.

 

[tnt]

....doesn't look like tnt's boy, Engstrom is setting any fund raising records. Maybe he wasn't the South Dakota whiz kid tnt mentioned.

Actually he has done quite well especially in light of the rest of the country. Of course we are talking real money here, despite how significant some boosters think their 2-4 million a year is. When Engstrom took over this area 4 years ago The University of Montana was publishing less than 200 times a year, They were getting less than 6% of proposals funded (the national average was 24%) in the previous 18 years annual grants range from 22 - 58 million. Since RE took over we are ranging 63 -68 million are publishing in excess of 400 times a year. Times are tough but we are getting about 15% of proposals funded as opposed to the current national average of 8%. This Year will be a little less than 68 million but not a lot.

 

[GrizPony]

No actually based on conversations with individuals who work at the Foundation. They were told explicitly why some donations were being withdrawn, by the donors who withdrew their support. So, like usual, you are wrong and an ass.

You didn't have to add that last sentence. But, you did, & says a lot about your character. Anyway, see this quote:

“Alumni and friends are passionate about supporting the university’s mission and they continue to do that even when times are tough,” Brehm said. “The financial markets are volatile and that affects giving.”

You chose to ignore, "times are tough." And, that financial markets are volatile and that affects giving. No, you're so ready to blame lack of support on Engstrom's decisions re: athletics that you overlook this. BTW, would you mind detailing "why some donations were being withdrawn?" Did the amount of those withdrawn donations account for the $1.1 million shortfall? Maybe they were withdrawn for other reasons. Please elucidate us.

You started the name calling sport. Don't cry about it now and try to pretend you are above the fray. Secondly, I didn't ignore a self-serving piece of drivel printed in the local rag, rather as I stated, my information came from someone that works on these fundraising efforts FOR the University. They told me what actual donors said their reasons were for withdrawing support. Can you even read?

 

[Silvertip]

So they're still working on getting lights for the stadium, huh?

Jean's office probably doesn't have a view of the stadium. But who cares if they repossess lights they don't use anyway. (On second thought, there's probably no night games scheduled because the Adams Center temp brain trust doesn't know they've already been installed).

 

[tnt]

I though those lights were for presumptive home playoff games and TV revenue???? (That and Bozeman got em....)