Development News
Dean's Circle and Annual Fund Show Significant Growth
Increased confidence in the school’s administration and an improving economy have meant good news for the Dean’s Circle and Annual Fund campaigns at the Moore School in 2004-2005.
“Our Dean’s Circle revenues have more than doubled in the past two years,” said Robert H. Gayle, Jr., director of development. “By June 30, 2005, we expect to have more than $300,000 on hand.” The Dean’s Circle, formed in 1998, is an elite group of alumni and friends who donate a minimum of $1,000 to the school.
The number of Dean’s Circle members has also more than doubled in the past two years—from 92 in 2003 to 193 as of March 30, 2005.
“There were three keys to success,” said Gayle— “ upgrades in levels of giving by friends and alumni, an increased level of giving by faculty and staff, and Doug Freeman’s generous, matching gift of $50,000.” (The Dean’s Circle now has 58 faculty and staff members, an increase of 48 over the year before. Douglas K. Freeman [MBA ’76], CEO of Atlanta-based NetBank and chairman of the Dean’s Circle, paid half the cost for new members to join during 2004-2005.)
In addition, as of April 1, 2005, there were nearly 1,340 pledges to the Annual Fund for 2004-2005, for a total of $145,000. This included 320 pledges from Moore’s Graduate Alumni International Network (GAIN) for a projected $45,000, and 220 pledges from the Friends of the Accounting Department (FAD), for a projected $30,000.
“Since GAIN was founded just two years ago, we think this level of giving for a first-ever campaign is pretty significant,” said Gayle.
Bottom line: the combined funds for the Dean’s Circle and the Annual Fund (both unrestricted and restricted) are expected to exceed $450,000 in 2004-2005, compared to $320,000 in 2003-2004.
The First Annual Meeting of the Dean’s Circle was held Oct. 22, 2004, at the Capital City Club in Columbia. Darla Moore, the University of South Carolina alumna for whom the business school is named, was the keynote speaker.