Contributors to the University of Nebraska are receiving the recognition they deserve.
The University of Nebraska Foundation, the charitable arm of the University of Nebraska and its affiliates, is among America’s top 100 favorite charities for 2018, coming in at 96th place.
About the foundation
The University of Nebraska Foundation grows relationships and resources that enable the University of Nebraska to change lives and save lives. It encourages private support of the statewide university and its affiliates while overseeing a $1.7 billion total endowment which is ranked in the top 25 among public universities, managing more than 11,000 funds designated by donors for specific university purposes and operating efficiently by keeping its costs to an industry low of 15 cents per dollar raised. More information is at the foundation website.
The rankings were released by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, a national publication that focuses on the U.S. nonprofit sector, in an in-depth series it calls “Who’s Raising the Most: The 100 Charities That Are America’s Favorites.”
This places the University of Nebraska in the company with many of its peer universities and the likes of the Mayo Clinic, American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Harvard University and others.
The Chronicle’s ranking is based on charitable organizations that received the most in contributions of cash and stock gifts in 2017. Its new report replaces its 30-year-old “Philanthropy 400” report.
Colleges and hospitals account for 49 of the groups on the debut list. Charitable support of these institutions climbed 44 percent from 2007 through 2017, even after adjusting for inflation. Among the list were Mayo Clinic, up 202 percent; the University of Notre Dame, up 100 percent; and the University of Nebraska, up 77 percent.
In an interview with the Chronicle about the rankings, Brian Hastings, president and CEO of the University of Nebraska Foundation, cited the generosity of Nebraskans and that of the university’s alumni and friends around the world.
He also gave credit to the generosity of the many people and organizations who committed gifts during the University of Nebraska’s last comprehensive campaign, Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities, between 2005 and 2014. The campaign set a goal of $1.2 billion and concluded with gifts and gift commitments of $1.9 billion.
“The impact of large comprehensive campaigns cannot be overstated,” said Hastings, as quoted by the Chronicle for its series.
In discussing the recent rankings, Hastings added, “This tremendous growth period reflects the combination of a loyal and generous donor base, outstanding university leadership with big ideas and big projects to inspire philanthropy.”
As the Chronicle of Philanthropy reports, the gift of stocks also helped move some organizations up in 2017 rankings, including the University of Nebraska. Nearly one in three dollars raised by the University of Nebraska that year came in the form of stock donations. Other institutions whose stock gifts made up a big share of contributions include the California Institute of Technology at 33 percent, Notre Dame at 21 percent and Stanford at 17 percent of total contributions.
Congratulations to all my friends at UNF! You have all invested a great deal of your time, energy, care, passion and even personal financial gifts into the strength and longevity of the University. Great work! You are wonderful teammates and we are all blessed by your contributions.