The Advancement Division at Southeast Missouri State University is sharing a list of successes and achievements as it closes the book on their FY2021 (FY21) activities.

Trudy Lee, vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the University Foundation, recently provided an update to the Universitys President and Board of Regents on activities and accomplishments for the University Foundation, Alumni Relations, KRCU and Development teams that comprise her division.

The Southeast Missouri University Foundation has raised close to $8 million in FY21, which is the highest yearly total since the conclusion of the last major campaign in 2015, Lee shared. The foundation raised $5.8 million in FY19 and $4.75 million in FY20. The majority of the money raised, $4.3 million, was donated as outright gifts to the foundation. That is our best total in this type of gift since 2009, said Lee. Of the additional funds raised, more than $3 million was received from bequests and the remainder from event sponsorships and attendance.

Lee also shared details that reflect the strength and diversity in the fundraising program this year. Some of the numbers she shared included:

• 22 new endowed scholarships established ranging from $10,000 to $800,000.
• 8 major gifts over $100,000, including 3 gifts of $500,000 each.
• 5 bequests completed, with proceeds ranging from $4,000 to $1.8 million.
• Major and planned gifts provide support not only for scholarships but also for athletics and academic programs.

The success the advancement division has achieved under Trudys leadership is outstanding, said Dr. Carlos Vargas, president of Southeast. The long-term planned giving program, reorganization and new technology she has implemented are yielding the success we see today. I congratulate her and her team for these great results.

Lee has also overseen the expansion of KRCU, the Universitys public radio station. The Board of Regents approved an expansion of KRCU to reach the Poplar Bluff area in the fall of 2019. The expansion has progressed in stages, and on June 24 KRCU began transmitting at its new location in Ellsinore, KDMC 88.7 FM, at 50,000 watts and will broadcast at the full 100,000 watts once approval is granted by the Federal Communications Commission. This expansion will allow KRCU to reach most of the Universitys service area.

Im proud of how the advancement division has not only overcome so many challenges this year, but also has propelled us to even higher levels of success, said Lee. The alumni relations and foundation teams, in particular, had to shift almost all of their activities online and had to make significant changes to all of their events. Their creativity, professionalism and dedication were key to this years success.