Tech Raised Over $8 Million In 2019-2020

Tennessee Tech raised over $8 million in the 2019 fiscal year.

The total includes cash, pledges, stocks, gifts-in-kind and new planned gifts. President Phil Oldham said nearly $2 million for scholarships came from cash donations alone.

Almost all of the donations are earmarked for specific scholarships or projects by the donors. Oldham said the gifts will have a positive and immediate impact on the lives of Tech students.

“I am grateful to each and every one of Tech’s donors for what they do for our students,” Oldham said. “This year the Tech community faced numerous challenges: the March tornadoes that struck Cookeville and the pandemic are just two examples.

The university received 6,749 gifts from 5,347 donors, 73% who are alumni. The alumni participation rate, which is the percentage of alumni giving each year versus the total number of alumni, averages 6%. University Advancement Vice President Kevin Braswell said alumni donations encourage other corporations to give.

“When we completed Tech’s capital campaign last year, ahead of schedule,” Braswell said. “We were able to focus on other initiatives, such as Tech’s new engineering building and the Eagle Assistance Grant, that needed support.”

“We are heartened to see that our friends are still supporting Tech’s mission to create, advance, and apply knowledge to expand opportunity and economic competitiveness,” Braswell said. “Each year, their support allows us to continue to help Tech students and the citizens of Tennessee.”