CLEMSON UNIVERSITY — Private gifts to Clemson University totaled $79.5 million in the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the university reported today in a statement.

The total includes $58.5 million given to the Clemson University Foundation to support academics and $21 million to IPTAY. IPTAY, which raises money for athletic scholarships, raised $21 million, an increase of $5.6 million over last year, due in part to the new seat-equity plan.

The foundation received $38.5 million in cash, $4.58 million in pledges and $2.65 million in gifts-in-kind, according to the statement. These totals include $4.6 million raised for athletic capital projects. Clemson also added $12.8 million to its inventory of planned gifts, Clemson reported.

Clemson saw an increase in alumni donations, with 28.5 percent making gifts. This percentage continues to keep Clemson ranked among the top in the country in alumni participation, school officials said in the statement.

Alumni gave a total of $11.5 million to the Clemson University Foundation, a 20 percent increase over last year’s amount.

“We are very grateful to our donors for their support of our students, our faculty, our facilities and for helping to enhance the overall Clemson experience,” said Brian O’Rourke, director of development and alumni affairs, in the statement. “Their investments are making a difference every single day on our campus.”

The number of corporations making gifts to Clemson also is on the rise, with 1,051 corporations giving to the university, up from 842 last year.

Highlights of the year include a $1 million gift from Milton and Betty Holcombe of Dallas for the Milton W. Holcombe Electrical and Computer Engineering Department; $1.5 million from Carolina First, given through The South Financial Group Foundation, for a gallery at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research; $1 million from AdvanceSC and $1 million from Duke Energy for an advanced materials innovation center; a building and land valued at $1.6 million from Michael Cheezum and family that will house the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI); $1 million from the Osher Endowment to support OLLI; and $1.25 million from Sam and Patricia Deal of Holden Beach, N.C., to support research on alternative energy, according to a statement.

IPTAY’s membership stands at 16,256, a slight increase from last year.

IPTAY is the oldest athletic fundraising organization of its kind in the country and will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year.