Philanthropy Publication Ranks University of Arkansas Among Top 25 Fund-Raisers in United States

Fayetteville, Ark. - The University of Arkansas made the No. 22 spot on the The Chronicle of Philanthropy's annual ranking of the top 400 non-profit organizations based on data from the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, which recorded $365.3 million in private gift support.

The Philanthropy 400, published in the Oct. 28 issue, shows the University of Arkansas ranking among the most successful fund-raising organizations in the nation alongside the Salvation Army, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Nature Conservancy, and universities such as Harvard University, Stanford University and University of Pennsylvania. In the 2003 compilation of the Philanthropy 400, the University of Arkansas ranked 211^th.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy is a bimonthly newspaper reporting on issues of the nonprofit world, and is a news source targeted to charity leaders, fund-raisers, grant makers and other people involved in philanthropic enterprises.

The publication gathered financial data from nonprofit organizations to determine which organizations raised the most from individuals, foundations and corporations annually. Among the top 400 earners for 2003, 129 were colleges and universities, both public and private.

The major reasons for the move up in rank was the receipt of the $300 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation and the impact of the Campaign for the Twenty-first Century, designed to raise $900 million. Campaign totals stand at $845 million. The campaign will conclude June 30, 2005.

"We are grateful to all our benefactors across the state and nation who have been extraordinarily generous to the University," said G. David Gearhart, vice chancellor for University Advancement. "To have moved forward 189 places in one year is an impressive jump for any institution to make, and it is our benefactors who made it happen."

Overall, 10 universities in the Southeastern Conference earned slots on The Chronicle's list:

• 22. University of Arkansas
• 65. University of Florida
• 113. University of Tennessee System
• 139. Vanderbilt
• 222. University of Georgia
• 234. University of Kentucky
• 251. University of Mississippi
• 260. University of South Carolina
• 291. Auburn University
• 386. Mississippi State University