N.C. A&T Alumni Times

In the recently completed 2018 fiscal year, supporters of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University set a new record for private giving with a total of $15.6 million in donations and pledges to A&T.

The total represented an increase of 6 percent over the previous fiscal year sum of $14.7 million, also a record for North Carolina A&T. The combined total of $30.3 million is by far the largest amount raised by A&T in any two-year span in the university’s 127-year history.

“We experienced stronger alumni engagement than N.C. A&T has ever had by way of pledges, scholarship support, outright gifts and more,” said Ken Sigmon, vice chancellor for University Advancement. “It is tremendously gratifying to see the Aggie Nation stepping up so enthusiastically to support the continued growth and evolution of this university.

“It speaks to a level of excitement among our most important constituents that is truly inspiring as we reach higher than ever before to bring in private support for A&T.”

The record year comes as A&T prepares to publicly kick off a capital campaign on Nov. 1 that has been in the quiet phase for several years. As has been publicly reported, the university has already raised $68 million toward an overall goal of $85 million.

Other philanthropic highlights for FY18 include:

The university received more than 10,200 individual gifts, a 7 percent increase over the previous year. That included gifts from more than 4,500 alumni, an 8 percent jump over the previous year.

A&T supporters gave more than $4 million to support endowed scholarships for the second year in a row, while gifts to support current-use scholarships exceeded $3 million. Scholarships are of major importance to the university: Two-thirds of A&T’s enrollment comprises students who are the first in their families to go to college, which means family resources to fund their education can be in short supply.

More than 100 donors made major gifts -- $25,000 or more – in the last fiscal year.

“When we see the level of activity that we did in FY18, it’s clear that our donors enthusiastically support the university’s mission,” said Sigmon. “At a time when many institutions struggle to identify private support, this says great things about North Carolina A&T and the many individuals and organizations who show their affection for the university through their thoughtful generosity.”