University of Illinois Launches Campaigns with Ambitious $3.1 Billion Goal

Urbana, Ill. — The University of Illinois System has officially launched its largest—and most ambitious—comprehensive fundraising initiative that aims to raise $3.1 billion over the next five years to support students, faculty, academic, and research programs and facilities.

This initiative is built on unique and individual campaigns for each of the System’s universities in Chicago, Springfield, and Urbana-Champaign that were officially launched during campus-based kickoff events in October.

“Each university has a distinctive campaign theme. Altogether these campaigns will be inspiring and impactful with cases for support focused on each institution’s strategic priorities,” said James H. Moore, president and CEO of the University of Illinois Foundation, the official fundraising organization for the U of I System and its universities. “We will celebrate and acknowledge the ways our universities cultivate knowledge, make innovative research discoveries, and provide life changing opportunities for students.”  

The campaigns stretch through 2022 and as of October 31, $1.5 billion has been raised toward the total goal of $3.1 billion. 

“With Illinois” the campaign for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign celebrated its launch the weekend of October 13. Thousands of alumni, friends, and students enjoyed an inspiring celebration at the State Farm Center where Chancellor Robert Jones announced the goal to raise $2.25 billion by 2022. The University of Illinois at Chicago held an energetic launch rally on Saturday, October 28 at the UIC Pavilion. Chancellor Michael Amiridis announced the “Ignite” campaign goal of $750 million to more than 700 alumni, students, and friends. “Reaching Stellar,” the campaign for the University of Illinois at Springfield, was launched at a celebratory gathering on October 10 in the Sangamon Auditorium. Chancellor Susan Koch announced the Springfield campus’s goal of $40 million. 

According to Moore, these three ambitious campaigns will be successful because the campaign priorities are linked to strategic areas of strength and opportunity that will resonate with passionate alumni and friends.  

 “The generosity of our donors provides the critical margin of difference that drives excellence, supporting student scholarships, world-class faculty, pioneering research, and state-of-the-art facilities that have made the U of I System a globally recognized leader in education, discovery, and innovation,” said Tim Killeen, president of the University of Illinois System. 

The overall size of these campaigns ranks among the top tier in higher education fundraising. Only eight public universities, including the U of I System, currently have goals greater than $3 billion. The campaigns are the first for the U of I System since Brilliant Futures, which topped its $2.25 billion goal when it ended in 2011. 
For more information about the campaigns and their fund raising priorities, visit the following web pages: 

The University of Illinois System will support these campaigns with a brand messaging platform called, “Altogether Extraordinary,” which showcases the demand, growth, and life-changing impact of the System’s three, best-in-class universities. 

About the University of Illinois System and the U of I Foundation 
The University of Illinois System is a world leader in research and discovery, the largest educational  institution in the state with more than 83,000 students, and universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield. The U of I awards more than 20,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees annually and aspires to have more than 93,000 students by 2022. The University of Illinois Foundation, established in 1935, is dedicated to securing and administering private gifts for the University of Illinois System and its three universities. 

For more information: 
Sue Johnson | Director, Communications and Marketing 
University of Illinois Foundation 
johnso16@uif.uillinois.edu | 217.244.7114 (office) or 217.417.7835 (cell)