THON Releases Fundraising Report; Individual Gifts Account for Lion’s Share

Individual gifts made up just more than 82 percent of THON’s fundraising revenue for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the organization announced Wednesday.

In a release of annual fundraising documents to the news media, the Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon reported that individual gifts totaled about $6.625 million for 2009-10. The fiscal year ended on June 30.

Other sources of revenue included corporate, foundation and small business gifts (10.35 percent of the total); the THON Store (5.47 percent); and fundraising events (1.98 percent), according to the THON documents. Overall revenue reached a reported $8.059 million.

On the expense side of the ledger, THON reported that 92.41 percent of its income was donated to The Four Diamonds Fund, which supports pediatric-cancer treatment and research. About $175,000, or 2.17 percent, went to event-management expenses; 0.42 percent, to operations and administrative expenses; 3.35 percent, to the THON Store inventory; and 0.49 percent, to the THON account balance.

THON, billed as the largest-student run philanthropy in the world, is a year-round effort that culminates each February in a 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon at the Bryce Jordan Center. It’s able to reserve such a large portion of its income for The Four Diamonds Fund because of in-kind donors and student volunteer support, according to the organization.

‘Thanks to the hard work and dedication of students, our expenses are kept at a minimum,’ THON Overall Chairperson Kirsten Kelly said in a news release. ‘Students are dedicating dozens of hours a week to the fight.’

Earlier coverage

• Penn State Identifies THON Expenses; Charity Is Among the Most Efficient (May 28, 2010)