University of Nebraska (NU) System Has Record Year in Philanthropic Support

The University of Nebraska Foundation announced a record $343 million in philanthropic gifts and commitments in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021, marking the second consecutive year of more than $300 million in new funds committed to benefit the University of Nebraska.

Gifts were directed to the University of Nebraska according to donors’ designations. Alumni, friends of the university, foundations and corporations make up the 46,639 donors who gave during the year.

“The University of Nebraska is in a remarkable position of strength as we look to the future, thanks to private and public partners whose investment in their university truly makes all things possible,” said University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter. “Our generous and visionary donors extend the university’s reach even further, helping to make higher education a reality for thousands of students and growing the impact of our research and service. The entire university family is grateful to our philanthropic partners for all they do for our 52,000 students.”

Across the University system, private support given created new scholarships, created faculty chairs and professorships for the recruitment and retention of top faculty, provided support for academic and athletic programs, furthered research, helped care for patients, and constructed facilities for teaching, research and service. Among the areas at UNO that benefited from private support this year were:

• Gifts were received to support the construction of facilities such as to redevelop Durham Science Center

• Mammel Hall at the University of Nebraska at Omaha was expanded with the addition of the Rod Rhoden Innovation Center

• Gifts were received to support the Samuel Bak Academic Learning Center at UNO

• Supporters made 1,390 gifts and contributed more than $190,000 as part of UNO’s first ever Wear Black, Give Back day of giving.

Student support was a priority for many donors, and more than 10,000 students across the university system received privately funded scholarship awards in the past year. Gifts were given to support students in nearly every major and college. Among them were the “Access to Exceptional” fund created to benefit students at UNO; a scholarship fund for students from Creighton, Nebraska, enrolled at UNK; a scholarship fund for students majoring in English who attend UNK; and funds to support those enrolled in the Teacher Scholars Academy at UNL, UNO and UNK; as well as many others.

“Many of our donors understand that a University of Nebraska degree can literally change the trajectory of someone’s life, and they have a strong desire to make those degrees accessible and affordable to more people,” said University of Nebraska Foundation President and CEO Brian Hastings. “Others want to support the life-saving work that our academic medical center does every day, but also recognize their global leadership through the COVID-19 global pandemic. This is the 85th anniversary of the foundation’s partnership with the University of Nebraska, and we could not be prouder to have this anniversary marked by a record-breaking year.”

About the University of Nebraska Foundation

The University of Nebraska Foundation grows relationships and resources that enable the University of Nebraska to change lives and save lives. It is ranked among the top 20 public universities for fundraising and in the top 25 for endowed assets. During the foundation’s last fiscal year, 46,639 donors gave $343 million to aid UNK, UNO, UNL and NCTA, UNMC and its clinical partner Nebraska Medicine, as well as university wide institutes and affiliates. More than 99% of all foundation assets are restricted to a specific use. More information is available at nufoundation.org.