University's Patrons/President's Club donor groups enhanced

The changes, which take effect immediately, were approved at the board's regular meeting during Homecoming weekend in October.

Alumni and friends will qualify for membership in the Patrons of Excellence major donor club by making an annual outright gift in cash or securities of at least $1,000, or an annual gift of real property or a gift-in-kind valued at $1,000 or more. Patrons will be asked each year to renew their minimum $1,000 commitment to remain active members of the group.

Membership in the President's Club will require a gift of $10,000 or a pledge of $10,000 over a three- to five-year period. Donors will remain members of the President's Club for five years.

Since its establishment in 1962 as the university's first major donor club, the Patrons of Excellence program has consisted of alumni and friends who contributed or pledged at least $10,000 over 10 years. The President's Club, established in 1975, required contributions or pledges of $25,000 or more over a 10-year period.

Members of the Patrons of Excellence and President's Club programs who currently are fulfilling pledges or have made gifts under the original guidelines will not be asked to renew their memberships under the new format until their present commitments are fulfilled.

Clark said that enhancing the Patrons of Excellence program will "encourage significant annual contributions from our alumni and friends that will provide Mississippi State with the resources needed to build even stronger academic programs and graduate even brighter students.

"The enhancements to the President's Club allow us to shorten the pledge period to conform with the guidelines of the university's major gifts campaign, which is a five-year effort," he added. "A vibrant and active membership in both donor groups is essential to Mississippi State remaining as the state's, and one of the nation's, top academic centers."