Thanks to the ongoing generous support and engagement of alumni, friends, faculty and staff, the University of Northern Colorado has posted a record fundraising year for fiscal year 2022 (FY22), surpassing the $20 million mark for the first time in UNC’s history. 

“First and foremost, I want to thank all of our very generous donors who have given to UNC, contributing to our ongoing efforts to prioritize student success inside and outside of the classroom,” said UNC President Andy Feinstein. “Money raised through philanthropic efforts decreases the financial burden of attending college for many of our students and has a significant impact on the university’s ability to invest in its future. Particularly during uncertain times as we navigate a global pandemic, I am extremely humbled to be a part of a community that has given back at an unprecedented rate, continually placing students first by investing in them and their futures. I know I speak on behalf of the numerous students whose lives are changed through donor support when I say, ‘Thank you.’” 

From July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, 3,784 donors committed $20,353,242 to UNC through a combination of cash, pledges and planned gifts, exceeding the previous record year, FY18, by more than $2 million.  

Gifts to UNC came in all sizes and for a variety of purposes. Many donors made their first gift in response to the university’s second annual day of giving, Bears Give Back, held on April 14. In addition to giving through annual giving initiatives, many UNC donors made larger contributions to UNC during FY22. Every college on campus received support and more than two dozen new funds were created in FY22, including: 

• A dozen new endowed funds, ensuring perpetual support for the people and programs at UNC. 
• More than $3.5 million in cash was given to scholarship funds, with an additional $1.5 million pledged through planned gifts, which will provide support for future generations of UNC students. 
• Funds which provide support for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at UNC received approximately $1.5 million -- more contributions in FY22 than any prior year -- further enhancing UNC’s commitment to becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). 

The fiscal year’s totals include a number of generous gifts that help advance strategic priorities and programs providing considerable support to students, including: 

• Renewal of support of the Kenneth W. Monfort College of Business through a 5-year, multi-million-dollar pledge from the Monfort Family Foundation. The Monfort gift provides support in many ways, from student scholarships to providing travel expenses so students and faculty can attend professional events and presentations.
• Continued support of students with financial need from all backgrounds through the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) at the State of Colorado through commitments exceeding $3 million. UNC donors also provide support to the COSI fund, ensuring that UNC is able to stretch state support to even more students.
• A nearly $1 million gift-in-kind from a friend of UNC that converted the playing surface at Nottingham Field to turf.
• Honored Alumni Bob and Bonnie Phelps generously gave more than $500,000 to establish three new scholarships that support LGBTQ+ students, Music and Musical Theatre majors and graduate students in Speech-Language Pathology. 
• A two-year $250,000 pledge from UCHealth to support the Arts at UNC.
• A gift of nearly $250,000 from a UNC alumna providing scholarships for graduate students pursuing degrees in education.
• Funding from several corporate donors to support UNC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including our first-ever Juneteenth celebration and campus-wide UNITE trainings. 

“The belief that the UNC donor community has shown in our students and programs makes a profound difference for the university we all know and love,” says Allie Steg Haskett, vice president for University Advancement. “I would like to echo President Feinstein’s thanks to our donor community.  Your philanthropy is an investment in our students whether it supports them directly through scholarships or more indirectly through support of our faculty, staff, programs, and facilities – all of which make their UNC experience what it is."