For the fourth year in a row, philanthropic support to the University of California, Davis, has surpassed $100 million.

Private support to UC Davis totaled $112.3 million during the 2009-10 fiscal year that ended June 30, topping last year’s $108.1 million total.

More than 41,000 donors collectively made 48,228 contributions to the university during 2009-10. These donors included alumni, faculty, staff, parents, students and other supporters, as well as corporations, foundations and other organizations.

Chancellor Linda Katehi expressed her appreciation for the many donors who helped advance the university’s mission and vision  through their philanthropic support.

“On behalf of the entire UC Davis community, I am grateful to the university’s many generous donors,” Katehi said. “Their contributions provide critical support for the groundbreaking teaching, research and public service taking place at this university. UC Davis has begun its second century with a bold and transformative vision for the future, a vision of excellence, and philanthropic contributions are essential to our success.”

Private contributions to UC Davis included support for students, faculty, research, programs, campus improvements, patient care and other purposes. Contributions came in all sizes; more than 38,000 were for less than $1,000.

“Donors choose to give to UC Davis for many different reasons, in support of many diverse areas of excellence across the university,” said Cheryl Brown Lohsé, associate vice chancellor for development and secretary of the UC Davis Foundation. “The breadth of UC Davis’ strengths attracts donors with a variety of philanthropic priorities. We appreciate the support of each and every donor, and thank them for their dedication.”

Some of the highlights of the year’s contributions are:

• A gift of more than $1.2 million for student scholarships from the estate of Violet E. Stenson.
• A $1.5 million gift from the Lanie Albrecht Foundation to establish the Albrecht Chair in Basic Science at the UC Davis Cancer Center.
• A $1.4 million gift from the estate of Brad and Mary Stuart Krause to the School of Veterinary Medicine to support the construction of an upgraded research facility at the school.
• A $1 million gift from Trinchero Family Estates, a family-owned wine company based in the Napa Valley, to support the construction of new facilities for Foundation Plant Services, a UC Davis program that provides disease-free rootstock to California nurseries and is vital to the grape and wine industries.
• More than $1.7 million in contributions to the UC Davis Annual Fund from more than 13,000 donors. (Gifts to the Annual Fund provide unrestricted support for the university’s immediate needs, including student scholarships and faculty support, as well as areas of emerging opportunity.)

Philanthropic support is one of the sources of revenue that helps advance the university’s mission. UC Davis receives about 20 percent of its total annual budget from the state. About 7 percent comes from private and local support.

Private support for UC Davis is used for the purposes designated by the donors. Gifts to UC Davis are accepted both through the UC Davis Foundation and the UC regents. In addition to accepting philanthropic contributions on behalf of the university, the foundation exists to help promote philanthropy for UC Davis and invests and manages private contributions. It is led by a volunteer fundraising board of trustees.

Kevin Bacon, ’72, current chair of the foundation’s board, said he takes pride in UC Davis’ accomplishments and the philanthropic gifts that further the university’s work.

“UC Davis is a remarkable institution that is improving California and the world through education, discovery and broad engagement with the public,” Bacon said. “It’s wonderful to see so many donors supporting UC Davis’ service-oriented work year after year through their gifts.”

Bacon, who is one of 48 volunteer leaders on the board of trustees, also gives generously to support UC Davis. His contributions have supported graduate student fellowships in economics and political science in the College of Letters and Science, as well as the building fund for the Graduate School of Management, among other purposes.

Each of UC Davis’ 10 colleges and professional schools benefited from private support. The UC Davis Health System received the most philanthropic support, at $29.8 million. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences received the second highest amount, at $25.2 million, followed by the School of Veterinary Medicine, at $23.1 million.

UC Davis private support totals are reported in accordance with university and national guidelines as set forth by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, an association of educational institutions.

“UC Davis’ growing private support totals are an indication of the university’s high-caliber work, as well as the dedication of its donors,” said Beverly “Babs” Sandeen, vice chancellor for University Relations and president of the UC Davis Foundation. “Philanthropic gifts enable UC Davis to extend and enhance the contributions it makes not only to the local community but to the world at large.”