For the third straight year, the Kansas University Endowment has been recognized as one of the nation’s top educational fundraising programs.

“We have a staff of fundraising professionals who are very passionate about KU,” said Dale Seuferling, president of the KU Endowment, the fundraising organization for KU.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education, or CASE, chose KU to receive a 2014 Educational Fundraising Award.

The award represents fundraising success among 65 research universities with endowments of more than $250 million. Other universities receiving the award were University of California, Berkley; University of Virginia; and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Among public universities, only KU and UC-Berkley have received the honor three times in the past five years, a distinction that qualified them for the CASE Sustained Excellence in Educational Fundraising Awards.

“This is a well-deserved honor for the staff at KU Endowment, and recognizes their dedication to connecting the passions of our donors with the priorities of the university as we seek to serve the people of Kansas and the world,” said KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little.

Private philanthropy supports numerous efforts at KU, from scholarships to endowed professorships to facilities.

During the past three years, contributions to the KU Endowment and KU Hospital have reached $153 million, $157 million and $174 million. These gifts count toward the endowment’s Far Above fundraising goal of $1.2 billion. To date, giving to Far Above has reached $1.1 billion, the endowment reported.

CASE’s award is based on the organization’s analysis of funding results, such as the average size of gifts, the percentage of alumni giving and the impact of the 10 largest gifts.

“It’s a great testament to the university’s goals and aspirations,” said Seuferling. “We are resonating with donors, have strong relationships with alumni, and we have a great partnership with deans and directors at the university,” he said.