Thanks for the Record-Breaking Year!

Amid a limping economy, CU alumni and friends rallied to support the university, giving a record-breaking $213.2 million during the 12 months ending June 30, 2011. More than 47,000 donors made gifts to all four CU campuses — Boulder, Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus and Colorado Springs. The Boulder campus brought in its fourth highest annual amount, $46.9 million.

The great news follows on the heels of CU’s $1.5 billion Creating Futures campaign announcement in April.

As state support rapidly decreases CU must maintain excellence while finding alternative sources of funding, including relying more heavily on private donations. It receives less than 7 percent of its funding from the state, the third lowest in the country. Last year the Boulder campus lost $22.3 million in state funding.

Donations do not replace the need for operational funds to keep the lights on and pay salaries. But they enable the university to maintain its standard of excellence.

“Private contributions allow us to enhance the quality of our academic programs, research and student experience, so we appreciate the generosity of all our donors,” says CU President  Bruce Benson (Geol’64, HonDocSci’04).