WMU Breaks Private Gift Annual Record With $41M; Credits New Alumni Website For Boost

Western Michigan University has increased its private gifts by more than 240 percent in the past year.

Private donates gave more than $41 million to WMU from more than 25,800 donors this past year, breaking all previous one-year records. The amount represents an increase of $29,446,110 from the total money raised in the 2010-11 fiscal year. WMU's fiscal year runs from July to June.

Jim Thomas, the vice president of development and alumni relations credits the Office of Development & Alumni Relations website as a major reason why the university is seeing an increase in gifts.