University of Illinois Brilliant Futures Campaign eclipses its $2.25 billion goal 4 months early
The University of Illinois’ Brilliant Futures Campaign has surpassed its $2.25 billion goal four months before the campaign’s Dec. 31, 2011, conclusion. As of Aug. 31, 2011, the University has gifts and commitments totaling $2.267 billion.
“Eclipsing the $2.25 billion dollar goal is a major accomplishment for the University,” says Sidney S. Micek, president of the University of Illinois Foundation. “The entire University community, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and friends, should feel a sense of pride right now. This is a tribute to the enthusiasm and dedication that everybody has for the University of Illinois. We have had incredible leadership from the University and the Foundation board. I want us to finish the last four months of the Campaign strong. We have a tremendous amount of momentum. Private giving has never been as important in higher education as it is right now. One of the other amazing achievements is that during the previous campaign (Campaign Illinois) we raised $1.53 billion for the entire University and the Urbana-Champaign campus has raised nearly $1.6 billion on its own and is still counting.”
Donors have designated $1.597 billion for the Urbana-Champaign campus, $593 million for University of Illinois at Chicago, $25.9 million for the University of Illinois Springfield and $50.9 million for the U of I Foundation and University Administration purposes. The Urbana-Champaign campus surpassed its $1.5 billion goal in April. The funds are used to support many areas, including student scholarships and fellowships, faculty support, academic programs, facilities, and research.
“I am truly honored and humbled by the generosity that donors have shown to help us reach our ambitious Brilliant Futures goal, with time to spare,” says University of Illinois President Michael J. Hogan. “It’s a testament to the passion and commitment that runs so deep to maintain the excellence that is synonymous with the University of Illinois. My thanks to each and every one of them, and to the hard-working Foundation staff who led this historic campaign.”
The Brilliant Futures Campaign is the largest in University history and one of the most ambitious in the history of higher education in the country. Currently there are approximately 20 capital campaigns in the country with a goal of more than $2 billion.
Here are a few other highlights from the first eight years of the Brilliant Futures Campaign. (Note: totals are for all three Illinois campuses from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2011.)
- 234,414 total donors
- 130,044 first-time donors
- 108,370 alumni who donated to the campaign
- 15,255 donors who gave every year during the campaign
- 20,095 corporations and foundations who gave during the campaign
- 18,135 current and former UI employees and retirees who contributed during the campaign
Of the $2.267 billion raised to date, $1.547 billion is in the form of outright commitments and $720 million is in deferred gift arrangements. $1.386 billion has been designated for current use and $880.9 million is designated for endowments.
The University of Illinois and the Foundation had a banner year in FY11 in terms of new business. New gifts, grants and pledges received totaled $253.9 million in FY 2011. It is the fifth year in a row that new business has eclipsed the $250 million mark. Of the FY11 total, $184.7 million is for outright gifts and $69.2 million is deferred.
The campaign began on July 1, 2003, and will conclude Dec. 31, 2011. The campaign counts outright gifts, grants, and pledges to the University as well as deferred commitments
This is the third comprehensive capital campaign for the University of Illinois. The initial fundraising endeavor, Campaign for Illinois, exceeded its $100 million goal by raising $132 million between 1979 and 1985. The second effort, Campaign Illinois, was launched in 1991 with a goal of $1 billion. When that campaign closed on Dec. 31, 2000, gifts totaled $1.53 billion, making it one of the largest fundraising efforts conducted by a public university at that time.
For additional Information, contact:
Don Kojich
Vice President for Marketing and Communications
University of Illinois Foundation
2217-333-0246
dkojich@uif.uillinois.edu