COLLEGE PARK, MD – As the 2022-23 fiscal year draws to a close, the Terrapin Club celebrates its successes in the fundraising efforts to cultivate Maryland Athletics. Several new initiatives are in place to help Terps of all sports perform at the highest level and continue the tradition of the athletic department, as donors supported the growth of Maryland on the national stage.
In the fiscal year 2022-23, the Terrapin Club increased its unique donor count by 8% from the previous fiscal year, showing the health of fundraising for Maryland Athletics is on the rise. Unique donor count is a core metric to track the overall fundraising successes of an organization
Kirby Mills, the Senior Associate Athletics Director and Chief Development Officer, said that the rise in donor count is a testament to the community's commitment to supporting the athletic department, no matter what they are able to give.
"It's critical that we promote the mission of supporting our student-athletes in all facets of their experience," Mills said. "Our fans, alumni and friends are answering the call of investing by building a community of support and giving at all levels.
Additionally, the athletic department saw a great deal of contributions from supporters on Giving Day, as the $317,302.35 given by 837 unique donors both mark the most Maryland Athletics has received in the history of the philanthropic drive.
The success of the Terrapin Club mirrors that of the University as a whole, as Maryland raised a record amount of gifts and commitments in philanthropic dollars of $252.4 million, including growth in the endowment from 964 million in June 2022 to exceeding over $1 billion by May 2023.
"We are proud that the athletic department is a part of the wider fundraising effort of the University of Maryland," Mills said. "The athletic department and the university as a whole have built a lot of momentum in fundraising this past year, and this is a great chance to celebrate that we are a part of the overall mission."
In 2022-23, the Terrapin Club saw many of its fundraising efforts pay off in the form of the Building Champions campaign, which seeks to give Maryland Athletics top-notch facilities across the board. The completion of the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex is scheduled for completion in fall 2023 while construction of the Barry P. Gossett Basketball Performance Center broke ground in June 2023.
With the dawn of the 2024 fiscal year, the Terrapin Club is hoping to continue fundraising efforts for the Stanley Bobb Baseball Player Development Center as well as an indoor softball hitting facility. As for long-term efforts, Mills emphasized the importance of continuing to expand and upgrade the athletic department's physical footprint through the Building Champions campaign while furthering the mission of scholarship and program-based support.
"We are excited to engage with our donor base to find intentional ways to put their investments into action and supporting our student-athletes at the highest level as we move forward into the 2023-24 competition year," Mills said.
