Temple sets own fundraising record

Temple University says it raked in $65.8 million in donations for its most successful year of fundraising ever.

University officials said in a statement released yesterday that the previous high of $65.4 million was reached in 2008.

This year's donations, ending on the fiscal year of June 30, came from 45,567 individual donors.

The university averages about $45.5 million annually, so this year represented a nearly 45 percent increase.

Much of the new money can through a big increase in pledged to scholarships. In fact, money pledged to support students rose from $8.8 million in fiscal year 2012, to $16.5 million for fiscal year 2013 – an 88 percent leap.

The university emphasized scholarships in its fundraising with the goal of keeping tuition increases to a minimum and cutting administrative costs, according to a statement posted online.

"Philanthropy is a vital component of our university's mission and enterprise," said Temple University President Neil D. Theobald. "It has a tremendous impact on our students by keeping the costs of their educations down as well as providing the spaces and resources they need to live, work and grow."

Temple officials said support for faculty and research also doubled year-over-year.