Utah State University Sees Increased Giving to Student Scholarships in Fiscal Year 2021

For the third consecutive year, Utah State University has surpassed its goal, raising $46.8 million from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. The funds include gifts from 7,711 donors, with 12 gifts of $1 million or more. Philanthropic foundations were particularly generous, giving $14,315,253 — an increase of 43% over the previous year.

Scholarship Support Gets Boost

Thanks to scholarship donors, the number of students receiving privately-funded scholarships and the dollar amounts for both endowed and expendable scholarships greatly increased. A total of $3,726,757 was given for endowed scholarships that supported 1,898 students, while $26,018,888 was given for expendable scholarships that supported 6,769 students. The number of new endowed scholarships was 76, which represents a 105% increase over last year. The number of first-time endowment donors was 52, a 79% increase. There were also 20 expendable scholarships created.

There was a record 13 Aggie Family Endowed Scholarships created this year. The Aggie Family Endowed Scholarship Program is a matching gift initiative that allows the impact of a gift to grow through the generosity of others. A $25,000 donation is matched dollar-for-dollar with an originating donor’s $25,000 to create an endowed scholarship. The scholarships become endowed (self-sustaining) after five years, and they are awarded each year from the investment income earned. This program enables motivated and qualified students to attend the university, regardless of their financial circumstances. Since the program began in 2018, $3.4 million has been raised and 61 Aggie Family Endowed Scholarships have been created.

The Aggie License Plate Scholarship Program raised $198,400, and the number of Aggie license plates on the road now totals 7,400. Over the lifetime of the plate program, $2,293,765 has been raised for student scholarships.

These generous gifts have assisted students in need this year, and will provide invaluable scholarship support moving forward, noted Matt White, vice president for Advancement and president of USU Foundation.

“We are overwhelmed by the support the university has received,” said White. “I am especially grateful to our endowment donors and those who have given to the Student Emergency Hardship Fund. The foresight of our sustaining donors has proven that their commitment to this university goes above and beyond what might otherwise be expected during the current pandemic. Thanks to their generosity, our students have persisted through these unforeseen challenges, and even more students will be able to receive scholarships in the coming years.”

Assisting Students in Need

The Hardship Fund has assisted 322 students thanks to an incredible outpouring of gifts from 1,140 donors totaling $190,348. USU’s Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC) raised $8,543. SNAC visits for July 2020 through June 2021 totaled 9,801. The university’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) program raised $4,510. CAPS conducted 9,485 counseling sessions that provided valuable assistance and support to 1,493 students.

University President Noelle Cockett said this year’s successful fundraising efforts reflect all that is best about our donors and alumni community.

“During these uniquely challenging times, Utah State University’s mission to be one of the nation's premier student-centered land-grant and space-grant universities remains as vital as ever,” said Cockett. “I am truly inspired by the generosity of our many donors and their belief in our institution as an intellectual and technological leader. The Aggie family has proven once again that USU has been, and will continue to be, a unique institution in the way that it serves the public through learning, discovery and engagement.”

Support From Every State

Utah State received donations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and 29 counties within the state of Utah. The highest total amount came from Cache County with $7,980,629 in gifts from 2,247 donors. Salt Lake County with $7,525,709 from 716 donors, and Davis County with $2,687,497 from 505 donors rounded out the top three. Outside of Utah, the top three states in total dollars donated were Washington, with $3,959,495 donated; California, with $3,844,457 donated; and Idaho, with $3,410,538 donated.