Despite recent conflicts with its foundation, the University’s fundraising arm, the University has come closer than ever to reaching its long-time yearly fundraising goal of $100 million.

In the fiscal year that concluded June 30, the University received $96.7 million from donors, according to figures listed in a University press release.

Both surpassing last year’s total by $19.1 million and adding to the Archway to Excellence capital campaign, the amount is a record high for the University.

The money was raised during a tumultuous time for the University.

In April the Board of Regents — the organization governing Georgia’s 34 public colleges and universities — ordered Adams to sever ties with the University Foundation, after the foundation did not sign the Memorandum of Understanding, detailing the relationship between the University, the Regents and the Foundation.

On July 19, the Arch Foundation replaced the University Foundation as the official fundraising arm of the University.

The University Foundation retains control of its $475 million endowment.

The Arch Foundation’s full board, which is made up of 33 voting members from the business and University communities, will meet in October.

The campaign, whose public phase began April of this year with a goal of raising $500 million, had raised $345.7 million as of Aug. 10.

The total amount raised is posted on the campaign’s Web site (www.archwaytoexcellence.uga.edu/news/index.html).

During an Arch Foundation Executive Committee meeting Tuesday, Steve Wrigley, senior vice president for External Affairs, reported on the recent fundraising success.

“A lot of people worked very hard last year,” he said. “The more people you have asking, the more you raise.”

Wrigley said the University is gaining the capacity to raise money on the same level as schools such as the University of Michigan.

He emphasized the need for larger donations — in the $20 million range — if the University wants to raise money on the scale of these institutions.

Praising Wrigley and other faculty who helped in the campaign, University President Michael Adams commented on the increasing donations at the beginning of the meeting: “All of us are deeply indebted to you (Wrigley) and your staff.”

Tuesday’s meeting was the first for the newly-formed Arch Foundation’s Executive Committee.

Committee members began discussing the various needs of a new university foundation — namely insurance, scheduling, money and the appointment of a reliable media spokesperson.