The Cornell Annual Fund raised an all-time record of $27.3 million in fiscal year 2009-10 -- a 12 percent increase over the previous fiscal year. Annual Fund gifts from both parents and the student phoning program also set records.

More than 32,000 Cornell alumni, students, parents and friends responded to the university's need for the most flexible kind of support, said Joe Lyons '98, the Annual Fund's new director.

"We heard a very clear articulation of the importance of unrestricted, current-use dollars from all of the university leadership," Lyons said. "And our supporters wanted to respond accordingly with the type of gift that would be most helpful." Gifts to the Annual Fund ranged from $5 to $1 million, he added.

The Annual Fund is part of the $4 billion Far Above ... The Campaign for Cornell. The record-setting year was in part thanks to the campaign, said Bob Katz '69, a university trustee and national chair of the Annual Fund. "There is a misconception that a major campaign will cannibalize your regular annual giving. But by reason of the excitement, the outreach, the bonding with alumni who have never been significant donors to the university before, you actually can increase participation in every sense, including the giving sense and in every category of giving. We have that advantage."

Annual Fund gifts support a broad array of areas each year, giving university leaders the flexibility to address the most pressing needs and exciting opportunities. Annual Fund gifts are used in different ways each year, but typically support such key priorities as faculty retention and hiring, program support, financial aid, special projects and other campus enhancements.

"Deans, directors and the provost can use unrestricted funds as tactical resources," Katz said. That can mean having the ability to deal with an unexpected need, such as last year's H1N1 flu outbreak, or take advantage of a unique opportunity, such as hire a prospective faculty member.

Administrative flexibility has become a key commodity since the 2009 economic downturn, Katz said. "The challenges and opportunities are greater than ever, yet budgets are tighter than ever. That's where we step in."

Lyons, who had been interim director for six months, was recently named the permanent director of the Cornell Annual Fund, replacing Maya Gasuk who served in that role for the past 10 years. In his new role, he will be responsible for designing and directing the program, which solicits a global constituency of 250,000 and accounts for approximately 10 percent of all new gifts and commitments raised for the Ithaca campus each year. He will oversee the numerous programs within the Annual Fund including Reunion Campaigns, Parents Fund, Regional Annual Fund, Direct Mail, Student Phoning and Leadership Annual Giving, as well as partnerships with the professional school Annual Fund programs.

"The combination of Joe's credentials, experience and ability to envision a top annual fund program clearly positioned him as one of the best in the profession and the best for Cornell," said Patricia Watson '83, senior associate vice president of alumni affairs and development.

The Annual Fund has spent the past few months gearing up for the current fiscal year, which began July 1, with mailings, phone calls and volunteer committee kickoffs across the country, Lyons said. "We are very fortunate to have such incredibly loyal volunteers and donors who have helped make our success possible. With their continued commitment, we're confident we can sustain the growth of the Annual Fund and continue to have a positive impact on Cornell."