Donors contributed over $522 million to the University of Colorado (CU) during the last fiscal year, marking the second-highest fundraising total in the university’s history and only the second time CU has surpassed half a billion dollars in philanthropic support.
More than 46,000 donors made upwards of 78,000 gifts across CU’s four campuses. These contributions supported a range of initiatives as the university approaches its 150th anniversary next year. Funding priorities included student scholarships, research efforts, arts and culture programs, faculty recruitment and retention, and advancements in medicine and health care.
“We are tremendously grateful for our donors’ generosity and passion. Their gifts are among our most important sources of support and help strengthen every part of our university community,” said Todd Saliman, University of Colorado President. “These gifts ensure our students, faculty and broader community in Colorado and beyond can benefit from the impact and value that CU provides.”
Of the $522 million raised last year, $161 million was allocated to research initiatives, $157 million went toward academic priorities including health care, $63 million supported student scholarships and fellowships, and $40 million helped attract and retain faculty members.
The university noted that donor contributions are directed according to each donor’s wishes; funds cannot be redirected by CU to cover other budget shortfalls. This is particularly significant given ongoing challenges to state and federal funding for higher education.
A wide variety of donors participated—alumni, friends, parents, students, staff, faculty members, foundations, and corporations—supporting projects at local communities throughout Colorado as well as globally. Gifts of $2,500 or less made up about 93% of all donations received last year.
Major individual gifts included a $10 million endowment from CU Boulder alumnus Spike Buckley to establish the Buckley Center for Sustainability Education; nearly $700,000 in scholarship funds from the Kane Family Foundation at UCCS; $7.2 million donated to CU Denver for student scholarships; and an anonymous $40 million gift at CU Anschutz supporting ophthalmology research.
In addition to immediate-use funds, donors invested $104 million in endowed gifts last year while creating 133 new endowments. As of June 30th this year there were 3,693 individual endowments benefiting CU with a combined value of $2.5 billion. A portion of each endowed gift is distributed annually while the remainder is invested long-term.
Planned giving also reached a record level with donors committing $128 million through wills or bequests to provide future support for CU.
