The University of Nebraska Foundation announced that alumni and friends gave $212.7 million in gifts and pledges to support the University of Nebraska during the fiscal year ending June 30, making it the third best year for private donations to the university. It is the third consecutive year that donations have exceeded $200 million.
Major construction projects concluded or are underway on all campuses with the help of private gifts. Those include the Health Science Education Complex at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, the College of Business Administration building at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Baxter Arena at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center at UNMC.
“The collective support of nearly 40,000 donors last year demonstrates how much alumni and friends care about the university and its impact on our state, citizens and economy,” said Tonn Ostergard, outgoing chair of the University of Nebraska Foundation board of directors. “Philanthropy has not only transformed our campuses physically, but it has also helped us attract talented faculty and even more students to the university.”
During the fiscal year, $230.7 million was transferred to the university, with more than half of those funds, or $118.5 million, being used for construction and renovation projects. The amount transferred exceeds the amount raised in the fiscal year because it includes income from endowed gifts donated in prior years as well as funds given in prior years for capital projects.
The foundation’s total endowment as of June 30 was $1.55 billion. Its total assets, which includes the endowment, cash holdings and other assets, were $2.23 billion. The foundation’s financial statements were audited independently by KPMG LLP. The auditor’s report is available here.