Centennial Campaign
1998-2004
Fact Sheet

Campaign Background

  • The Centennial Campaign was the largest campaign ever for a public master’s university in the U.S. Our success demonstrates that alumni and friends support our mission: to be one of the finest public universities in the country.
  • In fact, Cal Poly leads the CSU in alumni and parent giving. During the Campaign, 30,440 alumni contributed $68.2 million in gifts and pledges; 28,302 parents contributed $6.8 million.
  • Cal Poly invested only a dime to raise a dollar during the Campaign. The national average is 16 cents per dollar raised, making Cal Poly’s return on investment better than most universities.

Gifts and Donors

  • The Centennial Campaign raised $264,441,008, surpassing the $225-million goal by 18%, or about $40 million.
  • In all, 81,252 donors made 188,960 separate gifts. The greatest number of gifts came in FY 2004, with 30,021 gifts.

Donors came from the following categories:

Group
Total Gifts & Pledges
% of Campaign
Alumni & Other Individuals
$131 M
49.5 %
Corporations
$100.2 M
37.9 %
Foundations
$29 M
11.0 %
Other
$4.2 M
1.6 %
TOTAL
$264.4
M 100 %
  • Of the total, gifts account for $213.4 million, or 81%. Pledges and bequests total $51 million, or 19%.
  • During the Campaign, 45 gifts or pledges for $1 million or more were received.
  • More than 98% of all Campaign gifts were made with a donor-specified purpose. The remaining will be used to help the University respond to its greatest needs.
  • During the seven-year Campaign, 2,658 individuals and 256 corporations/ organizations made gifts to Cal Poly each and every year.
  • The university values gifts of every size. The average gift was $1,400.

Gift Purposes
The Campaign identified five priorities. Following are the totals raised for each purpose:

Priority
Total Gifts
& Pledges
Student Success
$44.2 M
Faculty of Distinction
$51.2 M
Enhanced Learning
$59.3 M
State-of-the-Art Facilities
$79.6 M
Enhanced Technology
$30.1 M
TOTAL
$264.4 M
  • The Campaign generated $24.4 million in gifts and pledges for student scholarships and other financial support to help the brightest students participate in the learn-by-doing educational experience.
  • $169 million, or 64% of the Campaign, was donated to improve student learning environments, instructional resources, and academic departments, so current and future students can benefit from state-of-the art facilities, technology and curriculum.
  • The Campaign generated funding for 20 privately supported chairs and professorships. These will allow the university to attract highly qualified educators and researchers.

Planned Giving and Endowment Information

  • Cal Poly’s endowment more than tripled during the Campaign from $43.1 million to $140.1 million. It is now the largest in the CSU, representing one-fifth of all endowed funds in the 23-campus system. Growth is attributed to gifts and prudent stewardship.
Date
Market Value
1/1/1998
$43.1 M
12/31/1998
$48 M
12/31/1999
$56.5 M
12/31/2000
$64.4 M
12/31/2001
$78.8 M
12/31/2002
$93.5 M
12/31/2003
$119.9 M
12/31/2004
$140.1 M

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