$1 Million Challenge Gift for Wear Black, Give Back

Highlights

• The 2026 Wear Black, Give Back –– UNO’s 24-hour giving day –– will begin at noon Oct. 7 and conclude at noon Oct. 8.
• If the seventh annual giving day achieves its goal of 7,000 gifts, UNO alumnus John Morgan will give $1 million to support scholarships for UNO students.
• Gifts made during Wear Black, Give Back support student scholarships, UNO colleges and programs, student organizations, Omaha Athletics, and other priorities.
• Learn more about Wear Black, Give Back and other challenges at givingday.unomaha.edu.

A University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) alumnus is offering a $1 million challenge gift during the 2026 Wear Black, Give Back to support scholarships for UNO students.

John Morgan’s challenge is the largest ever for Wear Black, Give Back, which is in its seventh year. His challenge will be achieved if the giving day –– taking place from noon Oct. 7 to noon Oct. 8 — reaches its goal of 7,000 gifts.

Supporters can make a gift now at givingday.unomaha.edu. Any donation of $5 or more to any area counts as a gift.

“UNO changed my life, and I’m happy to give back to support students,” Morgan said. “My early experiences taught me perseverance and the value of education, and I hope this scholarship gift helps more students access opportunities at UNO and pursue their goals.”

Morgan has supported scholarship programs across the country to help students access higher education. He earned a degree from UNO and graduated from Omaha North High School. He is an honorary University of Nebraska Foundation Trustee and has supported the University of Nebraska System for 25 years, creating the John Morgan Community Chair in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Franchising in the UNO College of Business Administration.

UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, thanked Morgan for his generosity.

“Scholarships equal opportunity, and John Morgan is giving back to provide UNO students with the financial support they need to grow and learn at Omaha’s metropolitan university,” Chancellor Li said. “We’re grateful for John’s generosity and hope other UNO alumni and supporters will make a gift during Wear Black, Give Back so we can achieve this first-ever $1 million challenge gift.”

Gifts made during Wear Black, Give Back support student scholarships, UNO colleges and programs, student organizations, Omaha Athletics, and other priorities. Numerous other challenges and matching gifts have been created to support UNO causes and priorities, including for the Mavericks Flight Team, Omaha Athletics, the College of Business Administration, and UNO Jazz.

In 2025, Wear Black, Give Back set new records, receiving 6,726 gifts to raise more than $1.4 million. Since launching in 2020, the event has generated more than $4.1 million in support of UNO students, programs, and initiatives.

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. During fiscal year 2026, a record $532.8 million was committed to aid UNK, UNL, UNO, NCTA and UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine. In addition, 58,433 donors supported the University of Nebraska. Alumni engagement and fundraising are efficient, with the University of Nebraska receiving more than $7 in gifts for every $1 spent. Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future is its current campaign with a goal to raise $3 billion from 150,000 unique benefactors to support the University of Nebraska. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.