Although 2020 will historically be remembered as a challenging year, the Missouri State University Foundation will record it in the win column.

During Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019–June 30, 2020), alumni and friends of the university donated a record-breaking $22,663,988 in gifts.

“Now more than ever, the university needs this support to help our students succeed,” said Brent Dunn, executive director of the Missouri State University Foundation. “This money creates student scholarships, helps renovate and build facilities, and supports faculty endeavors at Missouri State.”

The fundraising efforts are part of the Onward Upward Campaign, which set a goal of raising $250 million for the university. The campaign kicked off in October 2019.

This record-breaking year included:

• An eight-figure gift from the C.W. Titus Foundation to support scholarships, fund an art park and to name the college the Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts and Letters.
• Gifts toward emergency scholarships to help students and families with unexpected financial burdens due to COVID-19.
• A gift from the Darr Family Foundation to establish an agriculture magnet school and a small animal education facility.
• Gifts from the Hale estate to create scholarships for agriculture students from Barton and Vernon counties.

“The entire Missouri State community is better for the support of these generous individuals, foundations and organizations,” said President Clif Smart. “In these tough times, I am especially gratified to see the giving spirit. It lightens the load for students who might otherwise be unable to get an education.”

Record of success

For each of the past three years, the foundation raised more than $20 million in financial support. The previous record, $21.5 million, was set in FY18.

In addition to the gifts in FY20, more than $24 million was recorded as deferred gifts during the fiscal year.
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Since the foundation began in 1981, it has raised more than $368 million.