The number of donors supporting George Mason University set a new standard over the recently completed fiscal year, with 13,182 donors in all, an increase of 12 percent over last year.
For the third consecutive year, giving to the university surpassed the $100 million mark. Donors contributed a total of $100,025,681 in gifts and pledges during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021, according to figures compiled by the George Mason University Foundation, the non-profit foundation that receives and administers private gifts made in support of the university.
Especially noteworthy was a big jump in the number of Mason alumni contributing to their alma mater. Alumni donors increased to 6,145, which is 21 percent more than last year. With more than 218,000 living alumni, plenty of room remains for growth, if Mason is to eventually match the support touted by many older institutions.
“Every gift that we receive supports Mason’s mission of providing access to excellence for all,” said Trishana Bowden, vice president of advancement and alumni relations and president of the George Mason University Foundation. “I extend my sincere appreciation to every single donor to the university. Your generosity makes this amazing higher education success story possible.”
The great majority of charitable gifts received at Mason are designated by the donor for a specific purpose or program. When looked at by program, donations to the Mercatus Center, a non-profit research center at Mason, led the way at $50.8 million, much of which was distributed through the center’s Fast Grants program to aid research on Covid-19. Gifts to the Antonin Scalia Law School totaled $23.6 million, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts received nearly $7 million. Other programs receiving generous support this year included the School of Business, with $4.9 million, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, with $2.9 million.
In total, 75 percent of all dollars were designated by donors to research, followed by about 9 percent designated to student support, such as scholarships. Mason is currently the fastest-growing public research university in America.
—Rob Riordan, 9/24/21
To learn more about the impact of giving to Mason, watch our 2020 “Your Impact” video.