“We are extremely grateful for the widespread support EMU received in what has been a very challenging economic environment for fundraising,” said EMU president Loren Swartzendruber.

Gifts to EMU’s annual fund – known as the University Fund – totaled $1.73 million compared with $1.85 million in 2008 for a decline of 6.9% in unrestricted support. “The shortfall in annual giving is cause for some concern,” said Dr. Swartzendruber. “However, given the larger picture it is very understandable. A number of our alumni and donor friends have experienced economic hardship, and so naturally some have felt compelled to reduce their support.”

In a show of support for EMU students, 126 faculty and staff made extra contributions during the year to help offset some of the losses in endowment revenue. Together with some 60 alumni and trustees, $128,000 was given and pledged to establish an Emergency Student Aid Fund. Proceeds from this fund will be awarded as financial aid to students during the 2009-10 academic year.

In the area of designated gifts and grants, EMU had one of its best years in the past decade. Nearly $3.4 million was contributed in support of special projects in both the undergraduate and graduate programs as well as for endowment.

According to Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement, EMU received several substantial gifts that made the difference in total giving for the fiscal year. “A gift of $971,000 from the estate of Dr. Paul Hill of Virginia was the single largest gift to EMU this past year,” Shisler said, noting that the Hill gift will support EMU’s endowment fund as well as provide financial aid to pre-med students in EMU’s science program.

EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP) received nearly $800,000 in special project support from a variety of sources, including Church World Service, Fetzer Institute, Kellogg Foundation, The Ploughshares Fund and Compton Foundation. Substantial grants were made to other EMU programs as well, including an award of $132,000 from The Virginia College Fund and $117,000 for EMU’s nursing program from the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation.

Additional restricted gifts and grants in the $25,000 to $50,000 range benefited EMU’s music and scholarship programs as well as two new programs at Eastern Mennonite Seminary to provide online instruction and an Hispanic studies initiative.

“It is a special privilege to walk with our students as we prepare them to serve and lead in a global context,” Swartzendruber said. “Our mission simply could not be fulfilled without the involvement of those who are excited about what our graduates are doing all over the world.”

Kirk L. Shisler, vice president for , reported that contributions of $1,764,000 to the set a new record, surpassing the 2006 annual fund total of $1,733,000 by nearly two percent. The University Fund supports student financial aid, funds for and other program budgets as well as the (CJP), Shisler noted.

Support for EMU’s undergraduate and graduate programs included $751,000 in endowment contributions and $2,599,210 in restricted grants and contributions. Included in the above totals was $220,000 in bequests and deferred gifts, Shisler noted.

“With the exception of 2006 in which several rather large endowment gifts were received, this was one of our strongest years in terms of endowment giving,” Shisler added.

CJP and Seminary Generate Large Gifts

Several of the larger gifts EMU received in 2006-07 were designated for The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and for Eastern Mennonite Seminary.

The Fulbright Program and Church World Service provided grants of $357,000 and $251,000, respectively, for scholarships and special projects of CJP.

Meanwhile, EMU’s seminary benefited from a gift of $208,000 from an individual donor to provide scholarship support to seminary students.

Alumni Continue to Give

According to Shisler, an area of continued emphasis is alumni giving.

“For several years now, the average total giving of alumni to the University Fund has increased quite steadily,” he noted. “In 2006-07, for example, average giving rose from $413 to $473, an increase of 14.5.

“However, we continue to address overall alumni participation in giving, which is currently around 30%,” Shisler said, adding: “We believe that participation will increase as we engage alumni more actively in the life of the institution.”

Included in the giving totals are contributions of $121,000 from 165 EMU faculty and staff who supported the university’s annual fund and other programs during the year.

“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 significant financial support, we value the prayers of God’s people on our behalf.”