News and Progress

MU celebrates success of campaign

Final campaign donations total 104 percent of $1 billion goal

Feb. 11, 2009

University of Missouri officials announce the final totals for the For All We Call Mizzou campaign. Since the campaign began in 2000, alumni, friends, university personnel, corporations and foundations have given $1,038,909,621 to the state’s flagship university to fund scholarships, faculty, programs and facilities. The campaign surpassed the $1 billion goal in November and officially concluded on Dec. 31, 2008.

“The astounding success of the campaign is evidence that MU alumni and friends are committed to supporting the University of Missouri even during challenging economic times,” MU Chancellor Brady Deaton says. “We are deeply appreciative of the support from our donors throughout the past eight years. We will continue to build support for the university through development efforts, including the MU Flagship Scholars Program, which ultimately will provide a four-year scholarship to at least one student in every Missouri county.”

Gifts to the campaign in the past eight years will continue to make a significant impact. Donor contributions of $221 million have allowed MU to fund an additional 1,500 merit and need-based scholarships. Donors have contributed $87 million to help create 91 new endowed faculty positions, $487 million to enhance programs and facilities, and $242 million to support private research.

Donors designated more than 98 percent of their gifts for specific purposes such as scholarships, endowed faculty positions and facilities. The remaining 2 percent may be used at the chancellor's discretion. Approximately half of these unrestriced gifts are in the MU endowment or are pledges or planned gifts the university expects to receive in the future.

"Gifts to the campaign provide much-needed resources during this tight economy, but the gifts do not diminish the need for state funding," says David Housh, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations. "Most donors expect the state to pay for operating expenses such as regular salaries, building maintenance and utilities."

The For All We Call Mizzou campaign total includes gifts from alumni, corporations, foundations, friends, grants, organizations and students.

*Some donors are both alumni and MU faculty, staff or retirees. In the chart above, faculty, staff and retirees who also are alumni are included in the alumni category. Faculty, staff and retirees gave $38 million during the For All We Call Mizzou campaign.   

“As we look to the future, Chancellor Deaton and Provost Brian Foster's development priorities will include generating scholarships to ensure access for students, especially those in Missouri, and attracting and retaining outstanding faculty,” says Housh.“MU leaders will identify specific priorities for schools and colleges during the next several months.”