Major Gifts

Stephen McDaniel and Dorothy Hardy

Stephen McDaniel

As the former Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement at Fayetteville State, Stephen McDaniel spent much of his time fundraising for the university. As an advocate for independent-funded support for the university, he believed in investing that goal himself. McDaniel put action behind his support when he became a member of the Bronco Legacy Circle by making a planned gift to FSU.

"I have always had the philosophy that you ought to invest in programs that you are an advocate for and I'm an advocate for independent-funded support for the university, so I should show my commitment," McDaniel said. "The Bronco Legacy Circle is a vehicle that allows my level of giving to be far greater than if I had to give an outright gift.  Planned giving by nature allows a donor to make a more substantial commitment."
McDaniel was dedicated to garnering needed dollars for colleges, universities, and other private entities for the last 28 years.  He became Vice Chancellor after coming to FSU from Alabama A&M University.

"I came from a community very similar to Fayetteville... Huntsville is a military and university town.  It has two universities, just as Fayetteville does," McDaniel said.  "The people are similar in terms of their commitment to the university while the challenges are similar in both universities have a tremendous need for funded support."

McDaniel led the Annual Campaign to a record high with $1.7 million raised.  Both outright gifts and planned gifts to the university are essential for the continued success of the Annual Campaign.  Planned or Pipeline gifts provide the opportunity to receive major gifts from donors at any given time. Because most gifts that come through the Legacy Circle are associated with the university’s endowment, they become gifts that virtually never stop giving.

“The nature is that they (pipeline gifts) are associated in individual mortality which is an unpredictable state, so the more planned gifts you identify, the more depth of your pipeline giving. You always have some opportunity to receive a major gift from donors … for the most part, it’s continued giving,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel’s planned gift serves as his commitment to the university and the future of youth. He hopes others consider making a commitment through a planned gift.

“I think that for me, and I hope for others, it’s a commitment in the faith that the feature contribution of countless young people in assuring we have a quality of life not only in this community but others. That quality of life is supported by what happens here at FSU. If for no other reason, it’s a faith in generations yet to be born to have an opportunity to become all that they can become,” McDaniel said. “Fayetteville State and other institutions like Fayetteville State have paved the way for generations of young people to make a contribution to our society that without the university, they would never be able to make.”

To become a member of the Bronco Legacy Circle, donors must indicate FSU as a beneficiary in their will or be a participant in a planned or deferred gift such as an annuity or charitable lead trust. Supporters become a member of the Legacy Circle when they provide FSU with a copy of their will or codicil to their will. 

Dorothy Hardy

joined the Bronco legacy Circle after accepting a challenge from a classmate. The class of 1964 was challenged by classmate Willis McLeod during their 40th reunion in 2004 to make a significant gift to the university. Hardy decided then to make a planned gift in the amount of $10,000, and became a member of the Bronco Legacy Circle.

Hardy graduated from Fayetteville State University with a degree in education. The one time Miss National Alumni Association Queen spent her career in the Wayne County Public School System teaching primary grades and then became a certified reading teacher. She went on to retire as a Title 1 Coordinator.
 
“Teachers have a permanent impact on children’s lives and are preparing them for the real world,” Hardy said. “Because of Fayetteville State I was able to have the career I did and I just want to support it (the University). I do all I can for Fayetteville State … I have friends that I made at Fayetteville State that we have continued to be best friends all these years. We’ve been out for 43 years and we’re still best friends … the relationships I made make Fayetteville State so special.”

Hardy has served her local FSU alumni chapter, the Goldsboro/Wayne Alumni Chapter, in several leadership capacities. While she was president of the chapter, they received the Tom Joyner Hardest Working Alumni Chapter Award. She now serves as the treasurer.

Hardy is active in her church and in the Goldsboro/Wayne County Retirees Association. She is also an alumni of AKA Sorority and enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. She has two adult children and one grandchild. She was married to the late Larry Harding who graduated from FSU in 1966.

Hardy encourages other classmates and alumni to think about a planned gift as a way to give back to the university. The class of 1964’s reunion gift totaled $100,000 with many of the gifts being planned or legacy gifts.

The Bronco Legacy Circle is a designated group that honors those who designate FSU as a beneficiary through planned giving. To become a member of the Bronco Legacy Circle, donors must indicate FSU as a beneficiary in their will or be a participant in a planned or deferred gift such as an annuity or charitable lead trust. Supporters become a member of the Legacy Circle when they provide FSU with a copy of their will or codicil to their will.