By: nsudemons.com
NATCHITOCHES – On the strength of the largest deferred gift in the program's history, continued growth in the annual fund, and gifts generated for renovations in the Athletic Fieldhouse, the NSU Athletic Association Demon Victory Fund (DVF) set an all-time record for giving during the 2010-11 year and eclipsed the $2 million mark for the first time in history.
A total of $2,077,314 in cash and in-kind gifts for unrestricted (scholarship) and restricted funds and projects were receipted through the NSU Foundation for the 2010-11 fiscal year.
“What a wonderful testimony this level of support is to the generosity, dedication, and loyalty of our stakeholders,” said NSU Director of Athletics Greg Burke. “Funds generated from alumni, friends, former athletes, and the business/corporate community give our 377 student-athletes the opportunity to truly have a championship experience day in and day out.”
In December 2010, the NSU Athletic Department learned that it was the beneficiary for 50 percent of an anonymous $1,070,000 deferred gift to the University. That announcement came a year after the NSU athletic program was the beneficiary of a $350,000 gift from the estate of former athlete Richard Davis.
Also instrumental in the record year of giving was an influx of annual giving dollars to the scholarship fund that exceeded $250,000 and donations in the range of $200,000 that helped refurnish offices in the 34-year old Athletic Fieldhouse and pay for a state-of-the-art video system for the Demon football program.
“The deferred gift is especially noteworthy because it represents a vehicle for giving to NSU that is beginning to become more commonplace and can be more top-of-mind for our supporters in moving forward based on the funding challenges we have and will continue to face in higher education. In fact, private colleges have benefitted for years from planned giving and donors at public universities have an opportunity to make a similar impact,” said Burke.
Burke said preliminary plans are in place for significant facility improvements within the NSU athletic facility footprint. He acknowledged the involvement and support of the NSU Athletic Association Board of Directors over the past year.
“Those individuals not only made a personal commitment to provide support but actively encouraged others to follow in their footsteps. On a related note, William Broussard deserves a great deal of credit for the role he played in this success story as our Associate Athletic Director for External Relations over the past four years. DVF attainment numbers increased each year under his leadership and having this record year was a fitting conclusion to his tenure here before moving to Centenary College as Athletic Director,” said Burke.
