MSU faculty, staff, and retirees contribute mightily to campaign success

MSU ranks first in the Big Ten for faculty, staff, and retiree giving

Last week the University celebrated the role of faculty, staff and retiree donors to the Empower Extraordinary campaign at the annual Thanks for Giving luncheon.

More than seven percent of the $1.75 billion raised in the campaign to date has come from current or former faculty and staff of MSU. Nearly 600 of those donors attended the special campaign edition of the luncheon. The program highlighted the impact of gifts in amplifying research, invigorating spaces and supporting students and programs across campus.

Faculty, staff, and retiree donors are welcomed at the 2018 Thanks For Giving Luncheon registration.

Guests take their name badges at the Izzo Hall of History.

Donors pause for a photo before heading to the arena floor.

The MSU Saxophone Quartet performed live.

The event unfolds on the Breslin Center arena floor.

Guests enjoy the show around a center stage.

Current and former colleagues connect at the event.

Slide shows and beautiful campus imagery on display.

In the 2017 Council for Aid to Education survey, for universities who reported on faculty, staff and retiree giving, MSU ranked at the top of the Big Ten and third among all the 62 member institutions in the Association of American Universities.

“Faculty and staff contribute to the success of MSU not only through their hard work and expertise, but also through commendable financial support,” said Provost June Pierce Youatt, who spoke at the luncheon. “They know the role of philanthropy in helping us to build a bold future, and their own generosity is leading the way. We are thankful for their support and proud to work alongside them.”

University Advancement Vice President Marti Heil welcomes the crowd.

MSU Drumline performance surrounded guests on screens.

MSUFCU CEO April Clobes

Suzy Merchant welcomes April Clobes to the stage.

Provost June Pierce Youatt

Kathy Lessard (center) with April Clobes and Provost June Pierce Youatt.

Bob Groves (right) takes a question from Martin Hawley.

Linda Dunn (left) and Linda Halsey at a luncheon table.

Guests make connections at the event.

A group pauses for a photo.

Guests enjoy the Spartan fellowship.

Assistant Vice President Bob Thomas with Glen Brough and Suzy Merchant.

The members of the Faculty, Staff, and Retiree Giving Advisory Board.

The Empower Extraordinary campaign, which was publicly launched in October 2014, has exceeded significant fundraising goals, including: 

• Surpassing a goal of creating 3,000 student scholarships by 500, each providing $5,000 in annual support for students;
• Creating 104 endowed faculty positions toward a goal to create 100, with 23 faculty members already in place in newly endowed positions;
• Achieving a goal of increasing private support for research with an increase of 35 percent over the life of the campaign, providing more than $315 million in support; and
• Expanding a goal to complete funding for eight major construction projects through the campaign by completing funding for 22 major projects, with several already under construction.

Faculty, staff, and retirees contributed to all of these goals, including establishing six of the 104 endowed faculty positions.

Gifts received through December 31, 2018, will still count towards the Empower Extraordinary campaign.

Learn more about Empower Extraordinary.