ECU raises $43.2 million in 2018
A slew of anonymous, multi-million dollar gifts helped East Carolina University raise $43.2 million in fiscal year 2018.
Between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018, ECU alumni, friends, parents, students, faculty and other supporters committed $20 million to East Campus, $14.9 million to West Campus and the remainder to Athletics.
“ECU’s supporters continue to give generously to every corner of our campus,” said Chris Dyba, vice chancellor for university advancement. “Each gift, whether anonymous or not, is a commitment to improving the university, the lives of our students and the communities we serve. That’s why an investment in ECU is an investment in the future.”
Fundraising was bolstered by a successful Pirate Nation Gives, a day focused on philanthropy and engagement that raised more than $500,000 in 24 hours, as well as large gifts to the College of Business and the Brody School of Medicine. The College of Business received a $2 million commitment from Van and Jennifer Isley of Raleigh that will produce innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities for business, engineering, technology and arts students. ECU and Vidant Health partnered to create two senior faculty positions in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Brody funded by a generous gift to the Vidant Cancer Care campaign by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Barnhill Jr. of Tarboro.
The university also received several anonymous planned gifts including endowments for veterans, medical students and psychology students totaling $15.3 million. In all, the ECU Foundation established 33 endowments and the Medical & Health Sciences Foundation established 17 endowments.
In addition to individuals, numerous corporations and foundations supported ECU in fiscal year 2018, donating more than $11 million in gifts and grants. One of the largest was a $1.5 million grant awarded to ECU by the Oak Foundation. The grant will be used to expand the reach of the College STAR (Supporting Transition Access and Retention) program, a collaborative initiative designed to help college campuses become more welcoming of students with learning and attention differences.
“Our donors, alumni and friends understand the value of ECU and the quality educational experiences we provide,” Chancellor Cecil Station said. “To sustain our value, we need an unshakable financial baseline. Strong endowments build a strong university capable of transformation and innovation. We’ve had a meaningful fiscal year, and I’m confident our funds, endowments and impact will only continue to grow.”
ECU’s comprehensive campaign progress remains strong. The success of fiscal year 2018 raised the campaign total to $188 million – an amount that rises daily thanks to donor support.
For more information on how to support ECU’s mission or to donate, visit give.ecu.edu.
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