Muncie, Ind.- Undergraduate scholarships, growing graduate school programs, major academic initiatives and faculty development at Ball State University will benefit from more than $1.6 million raised in a matching grant program.

Members of the university’s board of trustees and the board of directors of the Ball State University Foundation made gifts totaling $820,486 between March 1 and Dec. 31, 2002.

The Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment, Inc., will match that amount as part of a series of initiatives to promote philanthropy to Indiana’s public and private universities and colleges.

“The Lilly Endowment challenged members of university governing boards to increase their financial commitment, and our board members responded by giving 444 percent more than last year,” said Ball State University President Blaine A. Brownell.

“We are extremely grateful to the Endowment for its continued generosity and to the members of our boards who, despite difficult financial times, have clearly demonstrated their commitment to this university,” Brownell said. “They can be proud of their gifts, which will have a positive impact on the lives of our students and faculty over the next few years.”

Thirty-two of the university’s 37 trustees and foundation directors gave $150,952 in 2001. The $820,486 being matched by the Lilly Endowment this year does not include more than $44,000 given by board members during the first two months of 2002, before the Lilly program started.

That represents a remarkable commitment to improving Ball State’s academic programs, especially when you consider the size and makeup of the university’s board of trustees, said Don Park, vice president for university advancement.

“Our trustees are appointed by the governor, not because they have established a pattern of giving to the institution, which is how many private institutions choose their trustees,” Park said. “We have a total of 37 people on our two boards, and some institutions have twice that many. We’re extremely pleased that each of our 37 board members contributed during this campaign.”

The Lilly program stated that the funds must be used for academic purposes. Ball State will support its academic programs in three ways:

• Support of growing graduate programs in music, science, education, family and consumer sciences, architecture, criminal justice and geography. The university will be able to attract outstanding graduate students by offering expanded or new graduate assistantships in those areas.
• Support of scholarships for undergraduate merit and leadership students. The university will be able to attract more undergraduate students who are high achievers and provide peer influence for many students.
• The final portion of the funds will be combined with funds raised during the final portion of the Endowment’s philanthropy initiative. The combined funds will support student scholarships, revamping of the university’s core curriculum, development of new academic programs and faculty development.

“The Lilly Endowment will match gifts, up to $3.5 million, to the university through Dec. 31, as long as they meet certain criteria,” Park said. “Gifts may not be for athletics, no single gift can exceed $200,000, and $3 million must come from alumni, $250,000 from parents and students, and $250,000 from faculty and staff.”

(Note to Editors: For more information on this story, contact Park at (765) 285-1633, or dpark@bsu.edu.)