The year 2000 seemed to trigger something in NIU alumni – they went from donating $6.57 million in 1999 to $12.08 million the next fiscal year and haven’t looked back since.

“I believe there is a general sense among our alumni that NIU is on the move,” said Mike Malone, vice president of University Advancement. “Certainly the $20-million donation to the College of Business was a major wake-up call to all our alumni.”

The average amount in alumni donations from FY97 to FY99 was $5.77 million, while the average amount in donations from FY02 to FY04 was $11.86 million.

Stories written about NIU’s academic programs being recognized as national leaders and the recent success of the football team have helped build up a sense of pride in the university, Malone said.

“With leadership gifts of $100,000 or more, I can clearly see a momentum building,” he said. “We have 15 individuals who have made a gift commitment to the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center of $100,000 or more.”

Ten years ago, a personal gift of $100,000 from an individual would have represented the largest gift ever of that type to the university, Malone said.

NIU President John Peters gives the fundraising staff the direction they need and helps highlight what should be focused on for fundraising, he said.

“The president has made clear that the standing No. 1 priority is to build endowment support for student scholarships and faculty support,” Malone said.

NIU is similar to other universities in that it does not have a long history of gaining alumni support. As a result, the university does not have nearly the level of endowed scholarships and faculty chairs it needs given the excellence of the academics and the quality of students, Malone said.

Malone said they are in the final drive for the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center and are quietly testing donor interest in a facility to support student athletes at NIU.

The facility would combine academic support with strength and conditioning and locker rooms, among other things.

“If there is sufficient donor interest in this project, the university may green-light it,” Malone said.

The interest of donors really has a lot to do with what projects are focused on, he said.