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Annual giving for fiscal year 2005 ends on a high note

By Lisa Gulya '07
June 20, 2005

Partners in Annual Giving raised $3.5 million during the 2005 fiscal year, reports Director Rebecca Otten. "We are incredibly grateful for the thousands of alumni, parents, friends, faculty and staff who supported the annual fund this past year," she says.

Alumni were the greatest contributors to the fund. Thirty-five percent, or 10,838 alumni donated. This year their contributions from 422 more alumni than last year totaled $2.4 million, a slight increase over 2004 donations. Increased participation can partly be attributed to a greater number of nationwide gatherings sponsored by Alumni and Parent Relations.

The Class of 2004 achieved a 46 percent class participation rate for annual giving. They surpassed the participation levels of all classes from the 1990s and 2000s for 2005 donations.

The newly graduated Class of 2005 set a new record for senior class pledging. Eighty-three percent promised their financial support for 2006.

With an increased emphasis on online participation, web donations rose by 22 percent with an 18 percent increase in online donors. During this year's phonathon, 40 St. Olaf students contacted alumni and parents, raising more than $810,000, more than a 14 percent increase over 2004.

In 2006, the Partners hope to raise $3.7 million with a 36 percent alumni participation rate.

The Partners in Annual Giving program benefits current students through academic scholarships, financial aid, library books, computer resources, international studies programs and more.

"We have much to celebrate, and we are grateful for the support of the campus community in our work," says Otten.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-646-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.