Newswise — Charlottesville, VA — The Darden School of Business and Darden School Foundation received $3.5 million in donations from donors during its Annual Fund drive. This is the highest amount ever raised in the Darden Annual Fund’s 57-year history.
The fund received gifts from alumni, friends, corporations and foundations around the world, setting an impressive record in many ways:
• Total receipts of $3.5 million surpassed the 2010-2011 goal of $3.2 million and represent a 17 percent increase in giving from the previous year.• Of Darden’s 14,000 alumni, 42 percent made an annual gift to the school. Darden alumni have one of the top three highest annual giving participation rates among the world’s leading business schools.• Of the 54 classes of MBA graduates, 14 reached 50 percent participation or higher, with an additional seven classes just under the 50-percent mark.
This unprecedented level of giving moves Darden closer to its goal of 50 percent alumni participation. An important factor in this year’s Annual Fund drive was Bob Bruner’s reappointment as Darden’s dean for a second, four-year term. Many donors increased their gift in honor of Dean Bruner and his steady leadership.
"We are incredibly grateful to the donors, the Darden School Foundation trustees, the class agents, the faculty and our hardworking staff for this tremendous accomplishment,” said Trip Davis, Darden School Foundation president and senior associate dean for external relations.
Darden’s Annual Fund drive is a vital source of momentum for Darden. In 2003, Darden became financially self-sufficient, which means the School relies exclusively on private support and does not receive funds from the University of Virginia or the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Through yearly gifts to the Annual Fund, alumni, students and friends renew their ties to Darden and recommit to Darden’s bold mission: to transform the world’s best and brightest students into principled leaders for the world of practical affairs.
“The Darden Annual Fund is critical for the school,” says Davis. “The challenge we face now after beating the historical record is that we must begin again and start raising funds for fiscal year 2012, which runs through June 30, 2012. I am confident that our tight-knit, committed community can keep up the record-breaking pace.”
For more information, contact [email protected].
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