The Fort Lewis College Foundation received more than $6.17 million in gifts and pledges for the 2019-20 fiscal year, a record amount.
The number of individual donors also is increasing. During the year, 2,536 donors invested in programs, services, scholarships and support.
“In time of crisis and opportunity, more individuals than ever stepped up to support every corner of campus,” said Mark Jastorff, vice president for advancement.
Jastorff said FLC has invested resources and added staff members for the past five years to improve solicitation of gifts and donations.
“This is the culmination of a lot of hard work over the past five years. We’ve worked hard to build our relationships, to better tell our story and we have a dynamic new president with a bold vision,” he said.
Two of the largest gifts in FLC history paced the record-setting year – $2.05 million from the Schlessman Family Foundation toward the Health Sciences Center and $1.6 million from the Ottens Foundation for the Native American Center.
The Schlessman Family Foundation donation was key in gaining support in the Colorado General Assembly to provide $33 million in state money for the new Health Sciences Center, which is expected to begin construction this fall.
The annual record for donations came one year after FLC Foundation’s old record of $4.6 million, which was received in fiscal year 2018-19.
Every corner of campus benefited from private support. Nearly $200,000 was raised for the Skyhawk Persistence and Emergency Fund in response to the pandemic and 11 new scholarships were established. Dozens of other scholarships continue to receive support as well as athletics, faculty grants and research, KDUR, the performing arts and the Center for Innovation.
FLC Foundation Chairman Keith Newbold said, “Philanthropy is increasingly critical at FLC. While this has long been the case, it is even more important in this new reality. We thank every single person, company and foundation for believing in what we do at Fort Lewis College.”
The foundation has raised more than $20 million in pledges, cash and gifts-in-kind since 2015.
parmijo @durangoherald.com