A Fundraising Feat

Generous community support leads to second-highest fundraising year ever

By BoNhia Lee

Thanks to the generous support of Fresno State alumni, partners and community organizations, gifts to the university during the 2023-24 academic year hit the second-highest amount ever — $38.8 million.

The total includes $28.9 million for academics and $9.9 million for athletics. That’s a 34.52% increase in overall giving from the year before.

“Our alumni, friends and community support us because they value the great contributions of Fresno State, and they clearly see how their donation is meaningful in helping to transform the educational experience of our talented students. This support is thanks to donors who understand that Fresno State elevates our region’s quality of life; the stronger our investment in the education of Fresno State students, the stronger the social and economic vitality of our region.”

– Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, President, Fresno State

Philanthropy touched all areas of the university last year from college-specific programs such as those in science and mathematics to student scholarships, student needs and professional development. Here’s a look at some of the noteworthy gifts from the past year:

  • $5 million from alumnus Larry Phillips via a planned gift to support endowed scholarships in the Craig School of Business and athletics.
  • $500,000 from the Tcherkoyan Family Trust, honoring the lives of Greg and Seta Tcherkoyan, to establish a scholarship for students transferring to Fresno State from community colleges.
  • $100,000 from the Person family, in honor of their parents, to establish the Molly and Bill Person Mathematics Outreach Fund supporting enrichment, outreach and engagement activities benefitting K-12 students in the community.
  • $50,000 via a donor-advised fund recommended by alumni Chris Morse and Ken Wittwer to support the Moss Adams Series for Student Professional Development in the Craig School of Business.Through the program, students learn business etiquette along with interviewing, communication and networking skills to successfully navigate today’s competitive workplace.

“Fresno State has achieved remarkable success this year, celebrating the second-best fundraising year in its history,” says Brady Crook, vice president for University Advancement at Fresno State. “This accomplishment reflects the incredible generosity of our community and the unwavering spirit of support that fuels our mission to empower students and transform lives. For that, we are deeply grateful for the tremendous support of our philanthropic partners.”