The Annual Fund

Supporting the
Future Today

Fiscal 1997 was a record-breaking year, as gifts in support of annual operations hit a high-water mark of $954,223, just a little short of our $1 million annual fund goal. We reached that number thanks to the generosity of 4,546 alumni and friends who made gifts during FY '97. Through direct and matching gifts we received another $1,005,196 from corporate support. Our total contributions in FY '97 were $4,742,082.


The fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30

"It's payback time. Jean and I got a lot of benefit out of the university. This is something we are able to do in return. And we're happy to do it."

- Ted Arenberg, Retired Partner, Arthur Andersen

AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IS ONLY AS GOOD as the students who attend, the faculty who teach, and the research that brings renown to its name. Hence, the importance of these annual gifts cannot be overstated. Unrestricted donations, such as those provided through the Investors in Business Education fund, help the college operate seamlessly and efficiently. Through this program, which supports four Investors in Business Education Professorships, Commerce is able to attract and retain the best faculty and students. These funds also provide for educational needs and opportunities as they arise, by supporting faculty research, scholarships and fellowships, outreach activities, and even emergency student loans.

At the end of a successful year, David Kinley
Society supporters celebrate. 		PART OF THE SUCCESS OF THE ANNUAL FUND IS DUE TO THE DEDICATION of the many alumni who helped bring attention to our premier annual giving program, the David Kinley Society.

Membership in the society is steadily growing, as more and more supporters choose to make this commitment. We encourage donors to become permanent members of the society through yearly contributions.

These gifts count toward a donor's Presidents Council commitment. And matching gifts from a business or employer are counted as part of a donor's total contribution for the year. There are four giving levels in the society:

  • Platinum — $10,000 and above
  • Gold — $5,000 to $10,000
  • Silver — $2,500 to $5,000
  • Bronze — $1,000 to $2,500

In the spirit of David Kinley, who played an integral role in establishing the tradition of excellence that has become a hallmark of


business education at Illinois,  the society will support projects such as the following:

  • A distinguished professorship
  • Student scholarships and awards
  • Graduate fellowships
  • Publications for alumni and friends
  • Upgrades to computer equipment for teaching and research purposes
  • Faculty recruitment
  • Visiting executive programs which allow business leaders to share their expertise with students and faculty
  • Faculty research that involves students in state-of-the-art discovery