When freshman Nicole Lengerich goes to work, she doesn't just make $6.75 an hour for herself, but rather generous amounts of money for everyone else at Ball State.
Lengerich is one of 35 students working at the Ball State Phonathon in the Alumni Center. The telemarket service, along with a development staff, raises money for the Ball State Fund and specific college funds that give students the opportunity to get scholarships, library books and desks and chairs in classrooms.
In 2004, the Ball State University Foundation gathered $150 million in total assets for distribution in departments such as academic programs, research, public service and athletics.
"It was a positive year for investment," Tom Heck, the foundation's vice president for operations, said. "We all appreciated it because the prior three years had been disappointing and even negative years."
Participants reported $267 billion in total endowment assets, representing an overwhelming majority of colleges and universities with endowments greater than $1 million, according to the National Association of College and University Business Officers' survey of 741 colleges and universities.
The foundation reports that Ball State is part of the majority.
"This year Ball State set a new record of $41.3 million (cash basis) for private support received," according to the foundation's 2004 annual report.
The "private support" refers to the list of alumni, who are contacted by students, like Lengerich, and donate from $10 to $10,000.
Alumni who donate more than $300 have their names put on the brick path outside the Alumni Center, Heck said.
Contributors can choose how their money is used and in what department.
Rose Keenan, director of development, said the Miller College of Business receives the most contributions from alumni pledges made through the phonathon.
When a gift is given to the university without a specification of what fund to support, the money goes to the Ball State Fund. The "unrestricted" dollars fund academic programs, bring guest speakers to campus or fill gaps in existing programs, such as scholarships.
The Ball State Phonathon is focusing on the upgrade of the football stadium.
"The foundation provided $375,000 in funding for the construction of permanent lighting for the football stadium," according to the foundation's 2004 annual report. There has been $150,000 received from pledges payable through 2009 from private support.
Although Ball State is not a private school, the university relies on endowments because state monies cannot provide the range of scholarships Ball State offers or quickly provide the funding for new buildings on campus.
"It would be a very different university without the public's contribution," Heck said. "People really are driven by their loyalty and their affections."
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