MSU fundraising beats $18M for third year, falls short of 2015

The Missouri State University Foundation received over $18 million in donations during fiscal 2016, but gifts were down 6.2 percent compared to $19.2 million in fiscal 2015.

The recent fiscal year, ended June 30, was the third consecutive the MSU Foundation brought in $18 million, according to a news release.

“As we plan for how Missouri State can make a greater impact in the community and nation, this private support is more crucial to us than ever before,” President Clif Smart said in the release.

Donations help grow programs, purchase equipment, build and renovate facilities, fund scholarships and provide faculty support, according to the release.

Gifts came from 21,570 donors, a boost of 502 compared to fiscal 2015, according to the release.

Donations included a naming-level gift from the Robert Gourley family for the renovation and expansion of Glass Hall, home of the school’s College of Business. Gourley, a 1960 business organization and management graduate at MSU, went on to own several businesses, including a beverage distributorship, photo-developing company and a startup bank in Kansas City.

The MSU Foundation’s record for donations came in fiscal 2012, when the school brought in $20.3 million in gifts.

In fiscal 2016, the foundation also received $1.2 million in planned gifts, according to the release.