Total gifts to the University declined by 2.3 per cent to about $63.5 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 1978. Development Office officials attributed the drop to the recent de-emphasis of most of Harvard's selective fund raising campaigns.

Schuyler Hollingsworth, University recording secretary, said yesterday the slight drop from last year was not significant because it coincided with a shift in the University's fund-raising emphasis from the mini-campaigns to preparations for an impending capital fund drive.

Hollingsworth said the total raised-- $63,559,087--this past year is "remarkable" because the "fund-raising efforts and gift opportunities were at a low to a certain extent in preparation for a new effort."

He termed fiscal year 1977-78 a transitional period in which each separate yet overlapping fund drive had lost its initial energy, in expectation of the new $250 million combined capital drive.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

Hollingsworth said the University received a surprise $4 million individual gift at the end of last year, whereas no such contribution was made at the end of this past fiscal year.

Alfred M. Gibbens, director of University Development, said yesterday the figures have not yet been audited and that he could not reveal the breakdown of gifts from foundations, individuals and corporations until the Board of Overseers meets on October 16.

The total gifts rose from $59,025,806 in fiscal year ending July '76 to $64,955,528 ment for Princeton University said yesterday.

Taggert attributed the decline to the end of a five-year fund drive which overshot its $125 million goal by more than $1 million. He added that the significant difference between the Harvard and Princeton gift totals results from the greater number of graduate schools at Harvard. He pointed specifically to the Business School which attracts large corporate donations.

Columbia and Yale Universities refused to release any fundraising figures yesterday. for the year ending July '77, Henry J. Ameral, assistant treasurer of Harvard College said yesterday.

Ameral said the total deferred giving has risen over the last three years because "people are catching on that that's the way to give their money away." He added there is a tax advantage to this type of contribution.

Ameral explained that deferred giving is income giving to the University in the form of a trust. The University retains the principle for investment and pays out the income to the donor until he dies at which point the University assumes control of the income.

The total for deferred giving was $2,224,700 for this past fiscal year, up from $1,432,670 the previous year and $843,062 for fiscal year ending July '76.

Princeton University reported a gift total of $22.3 million, registering a 3.5 per cent drop from the previous year, Charles L. Taggert, deputy director of Develop-The above graph shows the total gifts to the University for the past three fiscal years.