The University of Nebraska Foundation announced Aug. 28 record-setting private support for the University of Nebraska, with $416.6 million in new funds committed in the fiscal year ending June 30. This is the first time that fundraising has exceeded $400 million in a single year.
In addition, 60,602 donors gave a gift to support the University of Nebraska, the best year ever for the number of individual supporters.
“The generosity we’ve seen this year is a powerful reflection of the deep pride and commitment that Nebraskans, our alumni and friends around the world feel for the University of Nebraska,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, president of the NU system. “Even more so today, our donors believe in our mission, and I’m extraordinarily grateful for their investment in recruiting and retaining excellent faculty, advancing transformative research, providing scholarships that open the door to a University of Nebraska education, and so much more.”
Gifts were made to support all campuses: the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 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.
Almost all gifts received, 99%, were restricted to a specific university purpose. That means private support cannot be used to make up for losses in federal or state funding. Gifts were directed according to the donors’ designations, providing significant support for student scholarships, academic and athletic programs, faculty, research and capital projects.
To help make a University of Nebraska education accessible and affordable for all students, 123 endowed student support funds were created across the NU system during the fiscal year. In addition, 14 endowed professorships and chairs were created to recruit and retain excellent faculty and researchers. Endowed funds provide a perpetual source of support for the university because the principal is invested, with annual earnings used to fund the designated purpose.
Four campus giving days —Glow Big Red at UNL, Wear Black, Give Back at UNO, One Day for UNK and For the Greater Good at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine — generated philanthropic support from alumni, students and friends of each campus. Combined, the giving days raised $2.69 million from 17,652 gifts. Glow Big Red achieved a new milestone, with donors giving more than $1 million to support UNL over 24 hours.
“We are thankful to each and every donor for their generosity,” said Brian F. Hastings, president and CEO of the University of Nebraska Foundation. “While philanthropy cannot replace state and federal dollars, it plays a vital role in enhancing the university experience, driving innovation and shaping the future of the University of Nebraska. These investments will grow tomorrow’s workforce and fuel progress across our state. That’s the power of philanthropy — Only in Nebraska.”
Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future has fueled generous private support for the University of Nebraska. The multiyear campaign, which began in 2018, seeks to engage 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic programs and research to address the needs of the state. As of June 30, $2.7 billion has been raised. The campaign has achieved its donor goal, with 155,397 unique donors as of the end of the fiscal year.
Philanthropic highlights for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from the 2025 fiscal year include:
- The Omaha-based Peter Kiewit Foundation pledged $6.6 million to support the Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy. The gift will provide full cost of attendance scholarships to up to 40 students in the academy’s 2025 cohort.
- Carol Krutsinger of Norfolk, Nebraska, made a $4 million deferred pledge through her estate to support ag-related priorities at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UNL.
- The engineering and design firm Olsson pledged $1 million to create an endowed chair for the College of Engineering. Olsson is the first corporation to establish and fully fund a chair in the college.
- Cindy and Mick McCaffrey of Tiburon, California, made a $4 million gift to establish an endowed fund to support student workers in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.
- UNL alumna Catherine “Kit” Schmoker made a leadership gift to support the Kit and Dick Schmoker Reading Center’s expansion of its services to communities, schools and children throughout Nebraska. The center provides future teachers with hands-on opportunities to work one-on-one with young readers.
