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The Texas A&M Foundation is a 501(c)3 private nonprofit organization that raises major gifts and manages endowments for the benefit of Texas A&M University. The Foundation’s donors support student scholarships and fellowships, faculty chairs and professorships, student activities and campus equipment and buildings. The Foundation raises endowed gifts of at least $25,000 from former students, corporate partners, foundations and other friends of Texas A&M, including supporters such as Lowry Mays , George Mitchell, Hewlett-Packard and ExxonMobile.

History
The Texas A&M Foundation (originally named the Texas A&M College Development Foundation) was created in 1953 to assist in the fundraising efforts of Texas A&M University. Initial funding of $100 in assets was provided by 21 former students. Wofford Cain ’13, Sterling Evans ’21, Herman Heep ’20, W. P. Machemehl ’33 and A.F. Mitchell ’22 were named its first trustees. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, the Foundation made available $70.3 million to Texas A&M. The funds generally go toward one of four areas: program support, institutional development, student scholarships and/or faculty support.

In 1999, the Foundation completed a new headquarters building, the Jon L. Hagler center, on the campus of Texas A&M. In 2007, Gruy Fountain was added to the grounds of the Texas A&M Foundation. The 7,000-gallon fountain features 30 water jets, 32 lights and 200 pieces of manmade stone that weigh more than 15 tons.

For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, the Foundation had net assets of $1.2 billion, which includes endowment funds that the Foundation manages for its sister organizations : the 12th Man Foundation and The Association of Former Students.

Leadership
Dr. Ed Davis, a 1967 graduate of Texas A&M University, has served as president of the Foundation since 1993. He led the One Spirit One Vision campaign that raised more than $1.5 billion for Texas A&M’s students, faculty and facilities. As an undergraduate at Texas A&M, Ed Davis served as the commander of the Corps of Cadets. In 2006, he was appointed interim president of the university after Robert Gates’ appointment by President George W. Bush as secretary of defense.

Maroon Coats
In summer 2008, the Texas A&M Foundation created a new student organization called Maroon Coats. The Maroon Coats act as the Foundation’s ambassadors and liaisons to former students and other special guests of the university. They also develop philanthropic and scholarship programs to benefit Texas A&M students.

Scholarships
The Foundation holds endowments for a variety of scholarships for Texas A&M students in two categories: undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships. Undergraduate scholarships are awarded based on high-school activities, community involvement and the rigor of applicants’ high-school academic schedule. Some scholarships are reserved for underrepresented groups and minorities. Other scholarships, like the Regents’ Scholarship, are designed for first-generation college students. Others are reserved for students who intend to join the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets.

Legacy Society
The A&M Legacy Society recognizes Texas A&M’s most generous individuals, corporations, and organizations whose cumulative giving through Texas A&M University, the Texas A&M Foundation, The Association of Former Students, the 12th Man Foundation and the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation totals $100,000 or more. In addition, the Legacy Society recognizes individuals who plan to make future gifts through their estate plans. These individuals are known as Heritage members of the Texas A&M Legacy Society.

Sterling C. Evans Medal
In 1998, the Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees established the Sterling C. Evans Medal to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Texas A&M University’s philanthropic efforts. Some of the Texas A&M Foundation Sterling C. Evans Medal recipients include Lowry Mays ’57, H.B. Zachry ’54, George P. Mitchell ’40 and H.R. Bum Bright ’43.

Spirit Magazine
Spirit magazine is published three times a year and distributed to more than 115,000 former students and supporters. Issues contain articles featuring the impact of gifts on individual students, faculty, colleges of Texas A&M University, student organizations, campus and Foundation news, new gifts to the Foundation, and essays by former students and other supporters; photographs in the magazine feature donors, students at work and play, campus scenes, Foundation staff, professors and more.

Campaigns
Since 1990, the Texas A&M Foundation has spearheaded two major capital campaigns and a scholarship initiative for the benefit of Texas A&M University. The first campaign, Capturing the Spirit, was conducted from 1990-1996 and raised more than $600 million. The second campaign, One Spirit One Vision, exceeded its billion-dollar goal by $500 million from 2000-2006. Operation Spirit and MindSM raised $308.2 million from January 2007-August 2011. In partnership with Texas A&M, the Foundation also launched a campaign to support the Memorial Student Center renovation in 2009 with a goal to raise $20 million. Donors may reserve major outdoor spaces, entrances, rooms and pillars throughout the building.