The University of Nebraska Foundation announced Aug. 30 a record $388.8 million in new funds committed in fiscal year 2024 to support the University of Nebraska system. In addition, 57,603 donors made a gift to advance the University of Nebraska during the fiscal year ending June 30.
Gifts supported student access and success to grow Nebraska’s workforce; faculty, academic and clinical excellence to strengthen the educational experience; and transformational research and innovation to solve the state’s biggest challenges.
Donors supported all campuses: the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska Medical Center and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, University of Nebraska at Omaha and Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis. Gifts came from alumni, friends of the university, foundations and corporations.
“All of us at the University of Nebraska are deeply grateful to our visionary philanthropic partners whose generosity extends the reach and impact of our university so much further than what would otherwise be possible,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, president of NU system. “The support of our alumni and friends, together with the partnership of all Nebraskans, has put the University of Nebraska on an extraordinary trajectory. I am gratified that our vision for affordable, accessible, outstanding education that transforms lives here and around the world is resonating, and I can't wait to see what we will achieve together in the years to come.”
Numerous university priorities benefited from philanthropic support. Kiewit Hall opened in January at UNL to increase the pipeline of engineers in Nebraska. The $115 million center of engineering education was entirely funded by private support, including a $25 million naming gift from Kiewit Corp. The Scott Scholars Program, designed for high-achieving STEM students, received a $23 million gift commitment from the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation to sustain and grow the program at UNO and support its expansion to UNMC.
A groundbreaking was held at UNK for a second, $95 million building in the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex, a UNK-UNMC partnership to address a critical shortage of health care providers in rural areas. The William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation is the lead donor to the project.
Four record-setting campus giving days were an important source of new donors during the fiscal year. Glow Big Red at UNL, Wear Black, Give Back at UNO, One Day for UNK and For the Greater Good at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine raised a total of $2.59 million from 10,390 donors.
“Our University of Nebraska Foundation team is profoundly grateful to the 57,603 donors who supported the University of Nebraska,” said Brian F. Hastings, president and CEO of the University of Nebraska Foundation. “They are giving every student a chance to succeed, building Nebraska’s workforce and supporting research that changes lives and saves lives.”
Other UNL highlights from the 2024 fiscal year include:
- New deanships and chairs were established for UNL, Nebraska’s land-grant university, to recruit and retain outstanding faculty. Gifts resulted in the creation of the Fred Hunzeker Dean of Engineering in the College of Engineering, the Jane T. Olson Endowed Deanship in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, and the FORVIS Chair of Accountancy and the Joan Heiser Endowed Presidential Chair for the Clifton Strengths Institute, both in the College of Business.
- Because of private support, a University Libraries initiative to provide free course materials and e-books will expand to serve more students.
- An anonymous donor made a $1.4 million gift to the Nebraska Equine Sports Complex, which will provide a space for students to board their horses, expand equine extension programming and provide other experiential learning for College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources students.
- This fall, an expansion of UNL’s iconic Architecture Hall, HDR Pavilion, is opening.
The record-setting giving occurred as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The multiyear campaign seeks to engage 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support the University of Nebraska. As of June 30, $2.35 billion has been raised from 141,677 unique donors toward the campaign goals.
Fundraising results are reported in accordance with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s Global Reporting Standards, which governs reporting for educational philanthropy at schools, colleges and universities across the globe.
