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About the Annual Fund

 

What is the SFA Annual Fund?
The Annual Fund is a yearly campaign to raise funds for the seven colleges and 31 academic departments on campus. The goal is to provide immediate funds to supplement the university operating budget over the course of each year. Annual Fund gifts support essential needs that might not otherwise be provided for through state funding, such as computer equipment and software, faculty seminars and workshop programs, research efforts, student mentoring and support programs, library acquisitions, program accreditation fees and the like.

 

Why should I give to the Annual Fund?
State funding and student tuition only cover more than half of the SFA operating budget. Investment in the Annual Fund is one of the ways that friends and alumni are able to help ensure that the university is able to continue to operate at the current standard of excellence for which it is known. Gifts to SFA through the Annual Fund help decrease the deficit between funding provided by the state, tuition revenues and what is needed to actually operate the university. With recent state mandated budget cuts, private support from alumni and friends of the university in the form of Annual Fund contributions is needed like never before. Annual Fund gifts make an immediate positive impact on maintaining and increasing academic excellence at SFA!

 

Where do my Annual Fund gifts go?
One hundred percent of Annual Fund gifts go to the areas specified by SFA friends and alumni. Annual Fund donors decide which area of the university their gifts will benefit the most. Gifts are sent directly to the college, department or program specified by the donor, where the funds are then used by the college dean, department chair or other SFA faculty members to supplement the budget for their particular area of the university.

 

When should I make an Annual Fund gift?
The SFA fiscal year begins Sept. 1 and ends on Aug. 31. Since Annual Fund contributions support operating budgets university-wide, gifts made early in the year are much appreciated. Gifts made early in the year also save the university money by eliminating the cost of mailings and calls from the Phonejack Telephone Outreach Program to alumni and friends who have yet to make their Annual Fund gifts. However, gifts from all of SFA’s alumni and friends are needed, regardless of the time of year.

 

Who should give to the Annual Fund?
All alumni and friends of SFA are encouraged to the support the Annual Fund with yearly gifts to the area or areas of their choice. Regular gifts through the Annual Fund also help alumni and friends keep in touch with the university through special news publications, events and inside donor communications. If for some reason an alumni or friend of the university can’t make a gift during a given year, they are still encouraged to regularly update their contact information to keep in touch with SFA.

 

How do I make an Annual Fund gift?
Annual Fund contributions can be made via mail, telephone or secure online form. Make a gift now by using the secure online gift form; also feel free to use the printable mail-in gift form and return it with your contribution to the address shown on the form. To make an Annual Fund gift over the phone, simply call the SFA Development Office at 1-800-319-9517, and one of our friendly office staff will be happy to take your credit card donation. One of our most popular methods of making an Annual Fund gift is through our Lumberjack Draft. Lumberjack Draft is a convenient electronic funds transfer of your gift in monthly installments from your checking account. To take advantage of the convenient method of giving, simply use our printable mail-in gift form, indicate the total amount of your gift, and mail it in with a voided check or deposit slip.

 

If you have more questions or comments about the SFA Annual Fund please contact:

April L. Smith '02
Assistant Director of Development – Annual Campaigns
Phone - (936) 468-5406
Toll Free - (800) 319-9517
E-mail - alsmith@sfasu.edu

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