East Tennessee State University received $15.3 million in private annual giving in 2002-2003, which benefits all departments on campus, from athletics to scholarships.
“The sole purpose of the university is students, so everything benefits students,” said Dr. David Collins, president of business and finance.
The money is raised in a variety of ways. University Advancement coordinates an annual Phone-a-Thon, which employees students as telemarketers to contact alumni and seek contributions to the foundation.
ETSU Foundation raised approximately $7.3 million in 2002-2003.
Although every department gets some funding from donations, donors decide to which department the money they contribute will be given to.
“Around 95 or 96 percent of funds is restricted to go to a particular department,” Collins said.
“That doesn’t necessarily provide funds where they’re needed most.”
The money is primarily used for office supplies, scholarships and licenses that faculty and staff may need to get their job done, Collins said.
Last year, the digital media department received the most donations, totaling $1.8 million.
“Digital Media received major contributions of hardware and software,” Collins said.
ETSU Foundation reported that $9, 081,000 was received in scholarship monies from donors an endowments. This figure includes scholarships for athletics.
Many donations are given in the form of in kind gifts, which is usually paid in time spent volunteering to the university and deferment plans, where donors agreed to pay a certain amount of money over an agreed time period.
Last year, $4.9 million was donated in cash, $2.39 million were in kind and $3 million was deferred.

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