August 21, 2015
The loyalty and generosity of our alumni and friends has always been a defining characteristic of the St. John’s University family, and those qualities were strikingly apparent during the recently completed 2014–2015 fiscal year. The University’s mission of making a difference for others resonated strongly within both our internal and external communities, resulting in an outpouring of support that will have a significant and lasting impact on St. John’s students, programs, and values.
“This was a great year for the University in so many ways,” noted Edward M. Kull ’05MBA, acting vice president, division of institutional advancement. “The resources that our alumni and friends shared with St. John’s during the past fiscal year reflect the strength of their commitment to the University today, as well as their desire to keep it strong in the exciting times that surely lie ahead. Our donors are very special people, and we’re very grateful for all that they do!”
A look at the numbers speaks volumes about why that gratitude is so well-deserved.
During the 2014–2015 fiscal year, gifts to St. John’s totaled $19.03 million from 12,206 donors, an increase of $1.8 million over the previous year. Of those donors, 8,053 were alumni—1,200 more than last year—suggesting that our graduates’ connection to alma mater continues to grow with every passing year.
That connection is also apparent in the fact that over 4,800 alumni came back to the University to participate in one or more sponsored event.
Historically, excellence in athletics has always been a part of the St. John’s experience, and the past fiscal year witnessed exceptional support for the Red Storm. Gifts designated for our sports programs totaled $3.54 million, exceeding the athletic development goal by a substantial 54 percent. Highlighting this success was the $500,000 in revenue generated by the Carnesecca Golf Outing, a tribute to the esteem in which this beloved former head men’s basketball coach is still held today.
In recent years, the volatile nature of the economy has made estate planning more important than ever, and planned giving has provided a means for individuals to establish their legacy while supporting the University in perpetuity. During the past fiscal year, the Office of Gift Planning received $1.76 million in planned gifts and welcomed 28 new members into The McCallen Society, a prestigious group for individuals who have secured their legacy by including St. John’s in their estate plans.
Our major gift officers exceeded their fundraising goal by 27 percent, securing more than $1.77 million in large gifts to the University from our most generous donors. After securing a leadership gift of $250,000 for the Pamela Shea-Byrnes Catholic Scholars Fund, their efforts to perpetuate the memory and values of this beloved alumna raised the overall total for this initiative to more than $458,000.
While dollars and donors represent the major components of development initiatives, the ability to strengthen the connection of alumni to the University and each other remains an ongoing priority at St. John’s.
The Office of Alumni Relations planned and executed more than 100 events for our graduates. While most of these events were held on campus or in the adjacent communities, some took place as far away as Florida and California, ensuring that distance would not be a barrier to a graduate’s active participation in the St. John’s community.
“It’s heartwarming for me to be continually reminded of how the University holds such an important place in the hearts of our alumni and friends,” said Kull. “It’s obvious that they appreciate what St. John’s stands for and are willing to do what they can to ensure that the unprecedented achievements of our past will be matched—or exceeded—by the unlimited potential of our future.”
Kull also had words of appreciation for the Institutional Advancement staff members. “Our IA team really believes in what the University is all about,” he said, “and they’re willing to do everything in their power to go above and beyond what needs to be done every day. They’re the ones who make everything happen for our alumni, donors, and friends, and I hope that they’re as proud of what we have accomplished as I am. They deserve a tremendous amount of credit, and we’re all looking forward to even greater success in the months ahead.”