THE FLATS – Georgia Tech athletics’ most successful all-around year in more than a decade was boosted by $48 million in giving to the Alexander-Tharpe Fund, Tech athletics announced on Friday.
Despite the immense challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the $48 million in gifts and commitments during the 2021 fiscal year represented the third-largest single-year fundraising total in the history of the A-T Fund, Georgia Tech athletics’ fundraising arm. The total was surpassed only by the A-T Fund’s fundraising totals in 2019 and 2020.
Philanthropy helped the A-T Fund meet both short- and long-term goals in FY21. In the short term, the Athletic Scholarship Fund received a record $2.6 million in gifts, eclipsing its $2.25 million goal and accounting for a 100% increase since 2016. An additional $2.9 million was contributed by 3,200 donors to the Support The Swarm Fund, which helped Georgia Tech athletics overcome the financial challenges associated with Covid-19 and maintain a balanced budget for the fiscal year despite greatly reduced capacities at all of its home venues in 2020-21.
Long-term giving in FY21 included more than $23 million in commitments to capital and facility projects and $11 million committed to endowments for scholarship and program support.
FY21 donations also included commitments and gifts to the TECH Fund (contribution program for preferred seating at Georgia Tech football and men’s basketball games) and AD’s Initiative Fund (which gives the athletics director flexibility to address unexpected critical needs as they arise).
“The support from Alexander-Tharpe Fund donors over the past three years has been nothing short of amazing and has truly been a catalyst for the success that we have enjoyed,” Georgia Tech director of athletics Todd Stansbury said. “The overwhelming support for Athletics Initiative 2020, the Athletic Scholarship Fund and Support The Swarm helped us not only overcome potentially devastating financial consequences from the Covid-19 pandemic, but allowed our student-athletes and coaches to thrive in the face of last year’s challenges and achieve one of the most comprehensively successful years in Georgia Tech athletics’ proud history. I could not be more proud and I am so grateful to our A-T donors for making it happen.”
Of course, to maintain the Yellow Jackets’ upward trajectory, Georgia Tech athletics needs the continued support of donors during the 2022 fiscal year, which began on July 1, 2021. FY22 goals include continuing to grow the Athletic Scholarship Fund in an effort to fully fund student-athlete scholarships for all 17 of Tech’s programs, increasing membership in the Young Alumni and Student Yellow Jacket Clubs and enacting various initiatives outlined in Georgia Tech athletics’ strategic plan.
“The continued commitment and support of A-T Fund donors is vital to our goal of consistently competing for ACC and national championships and developing Everyday Champions across the board,” Stansbury continued. “Georgia Tech fans can help the cause by filling our venues, expanding our base of donors and continuing to provide athletic and academic opportunity for your Yellow Jackets through philanthropic support of the A-T Fund.”
To learn more and donate today, visit atfund.org.
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