ORANGEBURG, S.C. – South Carolina State University has reached new heights in fundraising, closing
the 2024–25 fiscal year with record-breaking support from donors across the Bulldog
community.
Between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, SC State raised more than $6.08 million in
private contributions, a 7.4% increase over the previous year. The number of individual
donors surged to 4,218 — a 34% rise and the highest annual donor count in the university’s
129-year history.
At the heart of this success were SC State’s loyal alumni:
· 3,183 alumni made gifts — a 41% increase over the previous year.
· Alumni giving rate reached 15.2%, surpassing the national average (8%) and
the HBCU average (10%).
· Alumni engagement rate was 15.3%, a newly tracked metric reflecting participation
in volunteerism, advocacy and university events.
“This record-breaking year is a testament to the pride and passion of our alumni,
students, faculty and supporters,” SC State President Alexander Conyers said. “The
extraordinary alumni giving rate and overall growth in donor participation exemplify
The Power of SC State, a collective commitment to advancing our mission and investing
in our future.”
Strong giving across donor constituencies
Philanthropic support came from every corner of the Bulldog family. Constituency highlights
include:
· Corporations contributed $786,495, reflecting strong partnerships in workforce
development and innovation.
· Small businesses gave more than $340,000, showing rising confidence from regional
entrepreneurs.
· Friends of the university contributed nearly $460,000, affirming SC State’s
impact beyond its alumni base.
· Faculty and staff gave more than $41,000, reinforcing a culture of internal
support.
· Board of Trustees, Alumni Association and Cabinet members contributed meaningfully,
leading by example in institutional giving.
Capital campaign surging ahead
This historic year also underscores the growing momentum behind The Power of SC State:
A Capital Campaign to Elevate Excellence. As of July 2025:
· The campaign has reached 59% of its working goal.
· Only 19.5% of the timeline has elapsed
.· SC State is far outpacing national benchmarks in capital campaign performance.
“This is not just about dollars raised; it’s about the movement we’re building,” said
John Michael Lee Jr., vice president for university advancement and strategic communications.
“Our donors are empowering student success, faculty innovation and a university on
the rise. They are investing in transformation — and accelerating it.”
Looking ahead
Funds raised this fiscal year are already being deployed to support student scholarships,
faculty excellence, infrastructure improvement and programmatic growth. As the capital
campaign continues to build momentum, SC State remains focused on achieving its bold
vision for the future.
To learn more or make a gift, visit www.scsu.edu/give.
Key fundraising highlights for FY 2024–25
· Total amount raised: $6,082,355.55.
o Up from $5.66 million the previous year — a 7.4% increase.
· Total number of donors: 4,218.
o Up from 3,138 — a 34% increase.
· Alumni donors: 3,183.
o Up from 2,256 — a 41% increase.
o Highest number of alumni donors in SC State history.
· Alumni giving rate: 15.2%.
o Record-breaking and significantly higher than:
-- National average (8%).
-- HBCU average (10%).
· Alumni engagement rate: 15.3%.
o A new institutional metric, showing broader alumni connection beyond giving.
· Capital campaign momentum
o The Power of SC State: A Capital Campaign to Elevate Excellence.
o Achieved 57% of goal in only 19.5% of the campaign timeline — exceeding national
pacing benchmarks.
Notable achievements
· Record year for alumni giving, alumni engagement and total donors.
· Diverse donor base spanning individuals, businesses, corporations, faculty
and faith-based organizations.
· Philanthropic strength signals donor confidence in SC State’s direction and
impact.
Salient accolades by constituency — FY 2024–25
· Alumni
o 3,183 donors — highest in SC State history.
o $3.61 million raised — majority of all private giving.
o 15.2% alumni giving rate — highest on record, significantly surpassing national
(8%) and HBCU (10%) averages.
o 15.3% alumni engagement rate — first time reported, showing strong alumni involvement.
· Corporations
o $786,495.78 raised from 59 donors.
o Strong increase in corporate support, underscoring value alignment with SC State's
workforce development and academic programs.
· Small businesses
o $340,778.91 raised from 97 donors.
o Demonstrates deep regional ties and growing confidence among entrepreneurs and
community-based businesses.
· Friends of the university
o $459,058.68 raised from 607 donors.
o Continued broad support from individuals beyond the alumni base, reflecting widespread
community goodwill.
· Faculty and staff (current and retired)
o $41,760.89 raised from 116 current employees.
o Demonstrates a culture of internal philanthropy and institutional pride.
· Board of Trustees
o $51,080 raised from 10 trustees.
o Strong leadership giving reinforcing the board's commitment to campaign success.
· Alumni Association
o $171,992 raised from 22 donors.
o High average gift of $7,817 per donor — showing strong organizational support and
class giving momentum.
· Foundations
o $62,751.01 raised from 12 donors.
o Investment from philanthropic partners in SC State’s long-term strategic initiatives.
· SCSU Cabinet
o $27,813.96 raised from 10 cabinet-level administrators.
o Signals senior leadership alignment and commitment to institutional giving.
· Faith-based organizations
o $7,000 raised from 16 donors.
o Represents growing support from churches and religious organizations rooted in
the SC State community.
· Associations and organizations
o $58,482.97 raised from 23 organizations.
o Support from local and national mission-aligned partners.
· Greek organizations
o $10,255 raised from seven fraternities and sororities.
o Reflects the ongoing commitment of NPHC and service-based organizations to student
success.
· Colleges and universities
o $2,305 raised from three peer institutions.
o Modest, yet affirming cross-institutional support.
· Students
o $1,685 raised from 23 student donors.
o Encouraging early signs of student philanthropy and engagement.
· Government entities
o $23,535 raised from 12 government partners.
o Reinforces SC State’s public sector value proposition.
· Schools (K–12 or other educational partners)
o $7,575 raised from 12 schools.
o Indicative of collaborative education-focused relationships.
SC State extends its deepest gratitude to all donors for their steadfast generosity
and belief in the university’s mission. Their continued investment fuels opportunity,
drives innovation and strengthens every corner of campus life. Because of their support,
the university is not only meeting the moment, but also building a future rooted in
excellence, access and transformation.
