FORGING FUTURES
FSU's Total Fiscal Year Fundraising Exceeds $4 Million for First Time
BY MIA CROSS M'03
Forging Futures: The Campaign for Frostburg State University began its quiet phase in 2016 with a goal of raising $25 million to benefit FSU students, the University and the region. After launching the public phase of the campaign in 2021, that goal is well within reach with more than $23.4 million raised (at press time). Even more impressive – for the first time ever in the school’s history, total fundraising for a single fiscal year has exceeded $4 million, with more than $4.6 million raised in FY 2023, ending June 30.
During the campaign, aside from FY 2020 during the height of the pandemic, the FSU Foundation has raised between $3.1 and $3.7 million each year. These figures were already significantly more than the average of $2.4 million raised during the University’s last campaign, Staking Our Claim, that ran from 2005 to 2011.
John T. Short, Jr., vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the FSU Foundation, thinks that more frequent communication and outreach are reasons for the increase this year, not just in the dollars raised, but also with an increase in the number of donors who are alumni as well as other friends of FSU. And according to Short, the number of donors to the campaign is as important as the dollar amount. “The gift doesn’t have to be big to make a difference. They all add up.”
“I think we’re doing a better job explaining that this campaign is not just about fundraising, but rather an opportunity to raise awareness about Frostburg State University,” said Short. “We continue to provide transformational experiences for our students and we’re a cultural hub and economic driver for the region. ... We are also letting more people know that in addition to fundraising support, they can help our students and recent graduates with mentoring, internships and job opportunities.”
Short explains that as more community members, business leaders and alumni see the importance of FSU, the more apt they are to lend their support. “It’s more important than ever, because we don’t get as much funding from the state, for our alumni and others to support FSU,” he said. “We produce graduates who stay in the area and become productive members of the local community.”
Fundraising is a necessity to provide additional scholarship support to offset increases in tuition, fees and room and board. It also enables FSU to help students in a multitude of other ways, from new classroom and lab equipment to travel experiences.
“We just need to keep telling those stories about our successful students and graduates.”
Contributions to the campaign support the Annual Fund, enrollment efforts, student success and experiences, regional outreach and capital needs. “We are grateful to all who have contributed,” Short added. “We hope others will join the thousands of alumni and friends of the University who are helping to forge the future of Frostburg State University and its students.”
You can learn more about campaign priorities and how to support FSU’s students by visiting www.frostburg.edu/forgingfutures.
How to Give
CONTACT:
John Short
VP for University Advancement and Executive Director of the FSU Foundation
SEND GIFTS TO:
FSU Foundation Inc.
101 Braddock Road
Frostburg, MD 21532-2303