UCLA ranks 9th in fundraising
By Leonardo Chusan
Feb. 17, 2010 10:52 p.m.
UCLA ranked ninth among the top 20 fundraising universities in the United States for 2009 with $351.69 million, according to a report released Feb. 3.
This marked a 25 percent decline from fundraising gains from the previous year, when the university took in $481 million through a wide range of financial gifts made by donors, according to university spokesman Phil Hampton.
The report, put out by the Council for Aid to Education, listed Stanford University first, followed by Harvard University and Cornell University. Other California universities listed included the University of Southern California, which was ranked seventh, and UC Berkeley, which was nineteenth.
Because the report focused on a fiscal year that ended on June 30, the decline in fundraising has seen some increase since then, Hampton said.
However, California’s current economic environment also played a factor in the spirit of giving from donors.
“It’s understandable that donors in this economic environment are more cautious,” Hampton said.
Hampton added that although the number of gifts have stayed strong, the stern economic situation has led to a decline in the value of gifts.
Ricardo Vazquez, a University of California Office of the President spokesman, said as of June 30, UC had approximately $7.8 billion in its endowment, falling short of the $9.6 billion balance one year prior.
However, with an improvement in the financial markets in the intervening months, the current balance is well over $8 billion, Vazquez said.
According to its Web site, UCLA Development, which is the largest department within UCLA External Affairs, works toward generating private gifts to support campus priorities. Hampton said the UCLA Development staff works hard to cultivate affinity for the university and create an environment to which people want to give.
Money is generated through private gifts to the university and goes toward a variety of projects including scholarships, research and construction.
“Typically, donors specify the use of their gifts, such as a particular field of research, construction project or scholarship fund,” Hampton said.
John Marfield, a third-year doctoral student in the Department of Education, said he is aware of the intertwining role that donations and research play in his department.
“I know in my department, if it’s not me, other students in my class work on research projects that bring in a lot of money to the university,” Marfield said.
While he sees the positive ways donations are being used, Marfield said he has also seen the effects of budget cuts and the California’s tough economic position.
After receiving funding for the past two years, but not this year, Marfield said he understands the tight position universities are in due to the state’s current economy.
“I understand that all universities are struggling and trying to do the best they can to make the student experience the best they can based on the resources they have,” Marfield said.
