University sees growth in major gifts, new business

Major-gift funding at Binghamton University is up nearly 73 percent over the past year, the University Council was told at its June 16 meeting.

The University has gained almost $9.6 million in major gifts in 2016-17, said John J. Zacharek ‘92, executive director of development. The increase follows a 32 percent climb in 2015-16. Binghamton received $3.2 million in major gifts in 2013-14.

“It’s phenomenal to see those cash gifts of $5,000 or more,” Zacharek said. “This is the future of fund-raising for Binghamton University.”

The University Council received a report from the Division of Advancement during its final meeting of the academic year. Besides Zacharek, speakers included Sheila Doyle, executive director of the Binghamton University Foundation, and Rebecca Benner, associate vice president for advancement.

Big-impact gifts over the past year include:

• A $2.3 million dollar anonymous gift for baseball-field upgrades;
  
• A $1.5 million dollar gift from Professor Emeritus Tsuming Wu and his wife, Grace Chin-Fa Wu, creating an endowed fellowship fund;
  
• A $1 million dollar anonymous gift to establish the George Klir Professor in Systems Science, an endowed professorship in memory of Klir, a former SUNY distinguished professor; and
  
• A $1 million dollar pledge from retired Air Force Col. Jim Warner ’60 to establish and the James A. Warner and Judia Warner-Healey Family Scholarship to support commuter students.
  

“This is a first-time gift – and someone who we had not (previously) engaged,” Zacharek said of the Warner gift. “He is someone is who isn’t in our traditional, metropolitan area of New York; he is in Florida. We are starting to do this more and more – getting out there across the country. … It’s a fantastic indication of things to come.”

The University has also surpassed its 2016-17 “new business” goal of $10.5 million, Zacharek said. New business, which is considered both new cash gifts and new pledge commitments, is now at $11.8 million. It is projected to reach $13.8 million (a 20 percent increase over 2015-16), with a chance to rise to $15 million.

Other statistics cited during the presentation:

• Total gifts received in cash are up 44.1 percent in 2016-17. The $11.98 million tops the division’s goal of $8.7 million.
  
• Leadership gifts ($1,000-$4,999) are up nearly 4 percent to $1.093 million.
  
• Support to the Binghamton Fund (the University’s annual giving program) is up more than 4 percent from 2015-16.
  

“I’m very impressed that we’ve been able to do this in such a short period of time,” Zacharek said of the increases. “It’s a credit to the leadership of both (Vice President of Advancement) Jim Broschart and President Stenger. A focus on development is what every good university needs. This is the best University and we want to demonstrate this through our development efforts.”