In addition to appropriations made by the Legislature from the State General Fund, the Forest and Wildlife Research Center is authorized and empowered, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning upon recommendation by the President of Mississippi State University, to receive contributions, donations, gifts and grants of money and/or property, equipment, materials and manpower from persons, foundations, trust funds, corporations, organizations, and state and federal agencies for use in carrying out the purposes and objectives of this chapter.