Spring Break
Donations top $90 million
by Anya Bergman
News | 8/26/08
Posted online at 3:50 AM EST on 8/26/08
This past fiscal year Brandeis received $90.4 million in cash gifts, including more than $25 million from alumni and $72.8 million in new pledges, making this the best fundraising year in the University's 60-year history.
One-third of Brandeis' fundraising money comes from the board of trustees. Over half the members of this board are alumni, Nancy Winship, senior vice president for institutional advancement, said.
This year a $15 million gift by Donald Soffer '54 was the largest pledge to the University by an alumnus in its history. The gift was given to the Campaign for Brandeis Initiative to help fund the construction of the atrium in the new Carl J. Shapiro Science Center.
Soffer said it is important to donate money for education because this allows students to "do thing that are important and significant in the world."
"Education is extremely important, and it's the future of the country," he said.
Soffer stressed the importance of scholarships, especially for minority students, and Winship said the most important delegation of cash gifts is financial aid for students.
"The cost of private higher education is prohibitive for most families," University president Jehuda Reinharz wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. "Brandeis must raise more funds to remain need blind and continue to help the best students obtain a Brandeis education," he wrote.
Winship said the Campaign for Brandeis started in 2001 with a goal of $470 million, which was surpassed ahead of schedule. The University exceeded its new goal of $770 million this spring and now has a $1.22 billion goal to reach by 2013. The University has currently raised about $785 million toward this goal.
About $200 million has been spent on new buildings and facilities so far, she said, with further money going into the University's endowment for the future.
She said the focus of the Campaign is to provide scholarships and fellowships for students and money to construct the buildings, which are currently in progress. The money also supports professors with endowed chairs, student and faculty programs and research programs.
One-third of Brandeis' fundraising money comes from the board of trustees. Over half the members of this board are alumni, Nancy Winship, senior vice president for institutional advancement, said.
This year a $15 million gift by Donald Soffer '54 was the largest pledge to the University by an alumnus in its history. The gift was given to the Campaign for Brandeis Initiative to help fund the construction of the atrium in the new Carl J. Shapiro Science Center.
Soffer said it is important to donate money for education because this allows students to "do thing that are important and significant in the world."
"Education is extremely important, and it's the future of the country," he said.
Soffer stressed the importance of scholarships, especially for minority students, and Winship said the most important delegation of cash gifts is financial aid for students.
"The cost of private higher education is prohibitive for most families," University president Jehuda Reinharz wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. "Brandeis must raise more funds to remain need blind and continue to help the best students obtain a Brandeis education," he wrote.
Winship said the Campaign for Brandeis started in 2001 with a goal of $470 million, which was surpassed ahead of schedule. The University exceeded its new goal of $770 million this spring and now has a $1.22 billion goal to reach by 2013. The University has currently raised about $785 million toward this goal.
About $200 million has been spent on new buildings and facilities so far, she said, with further money going into the University's endowment for the future.
She said the focus of the Campaign is to provide scholarships and fellowships for students and money to construct the buildings, which are currently in progress. The money also supports professors with endowed chairs, student and faculty programs and research programs.
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