Western fundraisers might not win the battle against the recession this year, but they think they’ll take the $200 million prize in the end.

Western has brought in less money so far this year than last year, but university officials are confident that Western will reach its $200 million capital campaign goal by 2012.

Endowment money shrank from $104.5 million last year to $94.2 million this year, according to the Board of Regents April 24 agenda.

Universities usually put donations into something similar to a savings account to create endowments. They spend the interest the endowments generate.

Private gift support from July 2007 to March 2008 was $13.4 million, according to the agenda. That amount fell to $9.2 million from July 2008 to March 2009.

Western had 1,963 President’s Circle members from July 2007 to March 2008, according to the agenda. From July 2008 to March 2009, that number decreased to 1,845 members.

President’s Circle members are people who donate $1,000 or more annually, said Tom Hiles, vice president for institutional advancement.

Hiles said the capital campaign has reached about $140 million despite lower donation numbers.

The campaign includes some gifts that donors have committed to the university, but Western hasn’t received yet, he said. The private gift support numbers include only money Western already has.

Hiles said he worries Western won’t bring in as much money as last year.

But President Gary Ransdell said he has no doubt Western will reach its capital campaign goal by 2012.

He said a decline in donations is inevitable during the economic downturn.

“I think you’ll find that on nearly every campus in America,” he said.

Ransdell, who was in charge of fundraising at Clemson University, helps raise money by coming up with gift opportunities and matching donor interests with university needs, he said.

“I think we have to be patient and persistent,” Ransdell said. “The trends will turn back around.”

Donald Smith, assistant vice president of the alumni association, said that, although some have given less to Western this year, others have made their first donations.

Many alumni run recession-proof businesses or weren’t heavily invested in the stock market when the economy started slipping into recession, he said.

“We’re still trying to be in front of people as much as possible,” Smith said.

Western officials also host events for alumni who give to Western, he said.

The events are more about keeping alumni engaged in the university than soliciting donations, Smith said.

“It’s our job to communicate with them and involve them in the life of the university,” he said.