University of Nebraska donors give record private support

$388.8 million in new funds committed to support all campuses of the university system in FY24

The University of Nebraska Foundation today announced $388.8 million in new funds committed in fiscal year 2024 — the most ever — to support the University of Nebraska. In addition, 57,603 donors made a gift to advance the University of Nebraska during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.

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 at Kearney, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 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 Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., president of the University of Nebraska. “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. 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. 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.

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. Wear Black, Give Back at UNO, Glow Big Red at UNL, 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.

During the fiscal year, donors created 138 permanently endowed funds, leaving a lasting legacy of support for the University of Nebraska.

“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 highlights from the 2024 fiscal year include:

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

• 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.

University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine

• The Richard D. Holland Presidential Chair in Public Health was established at UNMC.
• A significant philanthropic investment will support Alzheimer’s disease research and a clinical trial at Nebraska Medicine. The trial will enroll patients from across Nebraska with mild Alzheimer’s disease for a new FDA-approved therapy.
• A gift will support the Community Wellness Collaborative, a space created through a Nebraska Medicine-UNMC partnership to connect individuals and groups in North Omaha with health and wellness resources and information about health care careers.
• A gift from a living trust will support UNMC research to further the understanding and treatment of retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic eye disease.
• A gift commitment from an anonymous donor will support the Mary Eliza Mahoney Nursing Mentoring Program, which provides mentoring and academic support to first-generation students in the College of Nursing.

University of Nebraska at Omaha

• A computer lab in the Peter Kiewit Institute building was refurbished to create the FNBO Code Studio as a modern professional technology space. The gift also established a scholarship fund for College of Information Science & Technology students.
• The Michael Bruce Jones, M.D., Chair in the School of the Arts was established.
• UNO achieved its highest donor count ever, with 8,400 individual donors.
• The Holland Foundation invested in UNO students through a gift to the Richard Holland Endowed Scholarship Fund, the largest scholarship fund in the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media. The scholarship supports first-generation students and those with financial need.
• A scholarship was created for the captain of the Maverick Hockey program, the first position-specific scholarship for any sport within Omaha Athletics.

University of Nebraska at Kearney

• An estate gift will provide approximately 20 scholarships annually to students studying chemistry at UNK.
• UNK supporters Keith and Eileen Carpenter donated their rare 1948 Tucker sedan to support UNK scholarships. The sale of the vehicle will fund approximately 43 scholarships annually.

Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA)

• Donors made gifts to support a planned $12 million project to create the Student Success and Activity Center, part of an effort to modernize facilities and boost enrollment at NCTA in Curtis, Nebraska. Fundraising is ongoing.

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.

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 the most recent fiscal year, a record $388.8 million in new funds was committed to aid UNK, UNL, UNO, NCTA and UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine. In addition, 57,603 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.