IU ranks in top 10 for private sector donations

Twenty-three out-of-state scholars are receiving a full ride to IU -- fees, tuition, books and room and board. And all of it is in thanks to an anonymous donor -- an alumni from the Kelley School of Business.\nCurt Simic, president of the IU Foundation, said 2003 was a record year for donations to IU, as the University received nearly $250 million in gifts and grants.\nThese donations contributed to IU's rank of seventh among private sector donations to public universities in the nation. Another $164.4 million in gifts and $85.6 million in research grants from donors and private-sector sources placed IU second in the Big Ten.\n"Donors and grant-makers believe in IU's academic excellence," IU President Adam Herbert said in a statement. "They know that IU makes, and will continue to make, significant contributions to the state in economic development, medical research, information technology, the arts and humanities and discovery of knowledge."\nIU donations are made through the IU Foundation, a non-profit corporation partnering with IU development staff on all eight campuses to raise gift funds. Each year, the foundation receives more than $100 million in contributions for IU from more than 100,000 donors, including individuals, corporations, foundations and other organizations. \nSimic said the IUF hit a record of 105,977 donors last year -- 6,000 more than the previous year.\n"We've been consistent in our giving and have done well for a long time," Simic said. "When things aren't good economically, we have proved to have enough positive momentum to carry us through the difficult times."\nSimic said 97 to 99 percent of donors specify where they want their gifts to go. He said the most popular areas to receive donation are athletics, The Kelley School of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences.\nSimic said nearly one out of every five dollars goes to the athletics department.\nIn the 2000 to 2001 fiscal period, IU was named the No. 1 public university for private-sector support with a $45 million gift from the Lilly Endowment Grant, Simic said. In the 2001-2002 year, IU was ranked ninth among private-sector support.\nThe rankings were compiled by the Council for Aid to Education, a national non-profit research organization that focuses on improving higher education quality and access.\nThe data was collected through CAE's annual survey, "Voluntary Support of Education." The council based its total on 954 participating institutions. The results encompassed the 2003 fiscal year from July 1, 2002, until June 30, of last year, and were released to the Chronicle of Higher Education March 11. \nHarvard University ranked first in private gifts and grants with $555.6 million, according to the survey. Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Arkansas followed.\n"Our objective is to always be in top 20 among all universities," Simic said. "We will go up and down, but we always have loyal people."\nSimic credited the success of IU's fundraising efforts to a long-term strategy including a comprehensive fundraising program, a series of major campaigns, committed volunteers and hard-working staff and faculty members.\n"It's simple," Simic said. "At IU, we overachieve in every aspect."\nIU graduates and Bloomington residents Bob and Sara LeBien have donated to IU for more than 14 years. They have served in various positions within IU and have given money to different academic departments and founded a number of endowment scholarships. Last November, they donated $5,000 to send the soccer pep band to UCLA to play the fight song live in the fourth round of the NCAA championships.\n"We want to give back to the University in any way possible," Bob LeBien said. "We know the University and have a great deal of confidence in them."\nSara LeBien said the IUF has provided a very positive outlet for private donations.\n"We have seen some tremendous opportunities to fulfill needs," Sara LeBien said. "We are very project-oriented, and we always love the satisfaction of helping the University out any way we can."\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.