LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska Foundation has received more than $1.2 billion in gifts for its fundraising campaign, the Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities, with about 30 months to go before the campaign ends.
As of April 30, the campaign had raised $1,212,896,578 since it began in 2005. More than 80,000 people and organizations have donated to the campaign. The gifts given support all four NU campuses.
Support beyond expectations
“The enthusiasm and spirit that has been so powerful since the beginning of the Campaign for Nebraska has taken us farther than we imagined,” said Pete Whitted, M.D., chairman of the foundation’s board of directors.
Gifts given to the campaign so far have funded:
- $416 million in capital construction and renovation;
- $189 million in direct student support;
- $383 million for academic programs;
- $60 million for recruiting and retention of top faculty; and
- $40 million for research.
Another $113 million has been designated by donors for multiple purposes, and $12 million was given by donors directly to the university.
Campaign priorities
Several academic areas were identified at the outset of the campaign as the highest priorities for funding. Those areas are:
- Student scholarships;
- Funds for faculty recruitment and retention;
- Global engagement;
- Agriculture and life sciences;
- Information technology and business;
- Cancer research and care;
- Architectural engineering and construction;
- Water for food; and
- Early childhood education.
Significant progress
Some of those have reached or are near their initial campaign funding targets; others still require private funds. The campaign will continue to focus on the important priorities that have been identified, NU President James B. Milliken said.
“When we launched this campaign our focus was on advancing the University of Nebraska’s ability to serve the people of our state,” Milliken said. “Because of the campaign’s tremendous success, we are achieving that goal beyond our expectations.
“I could not be more grateful to all those who have supported the Campaign for Nebraska.”