UA Reaches $1.5B Campaign Goal in 6 Years
Nearly two years ahead of schedule, the University of Arizona’s most ambitious and comprehensive fundraising campaign has reached its $1.5 billion goal.
“I am so grateful to the more than 100,000 donors who have made the incredible accomplishments of Arizona NOW possible,” said UA President Ann Weaver Hart. “The Arizona NOW campaign has set a critical foundation for the University of Arizona’s future success advancing research, improving instruction, expanding access and empowering all members of the UA community to fulfill their potential. It has shown us what is possible when the entire UA community – faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends from around the world – come together to help drive the future of this wonderful community of learning.”
Arizona NOW was planned as an eight-year effort beginning in 2010. The campaign’s priorities focused on providing opportunities for students, supporting faculty and research, and investing in University outreach initiatives. In 2014, the campaign was launched publicly with nearly $860 million raised.
Entrepreneur Peter Salter and his wife, Nancy, pushed the campaign to the finish line with a recent $2.5 million commitment. Their gift endows the Center for Management Innovations in Healthcare at the Eller College of Management, which brings together students, researchers and health care partners to build connections between business and medicine.
Four out of six fiscal years have been record-setting and helped accelerate the campaign toward its goal. The fiscal year ending June 30 was the third consecutive year in which gifts and commitments to the UA totaled more than $200 million. Critical investments through endowed funds, which honor donor intent and benefit the University in perpetuity, also rose in 2016 and remain a high priority for the UA.
Generous donors and Arizona NOW co-chairs Sarah Smallhouse and Jeff Stevens served as champions for the campaign.
“It was truly exciting to assist with such a huge and worthwhile endeavor,” Smallhouse said. “To have reached this impressive goal sooner than we expected is testament to the commitment and dedication of our loyal community.”
Smallhouse is president of the Thomas R. Brown Foundations, which have made transformational gifts across the UA, including several large gifts to support student scholarships and to endow faculty positions in the College of Engineering, the Eller College of Management, the UA College of Science and Biosphere 2.
In addition to several other notable gifts, Jeff Stevens and his wife, Sharon, made a significant lead gift to help fund the construction of the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility and provide the Arizona football team with one of the premier facilities in the nation. The Stevens met while attending the UA in the 1980s.
“It was important for us to give back because we received so much from the UA,” Stevens said. “And I am very pleased and grateful to see so many other people who were impacted by the UA give back in support of future generations.”
John-Paul Roczniak, vice president of development and chief development officer for the UA and president and CEO of the UA Foundation, said he is thankful to everyone who demonstrated incredible generosity and commitment.
“Arizona NOW is much more than a number. It’s a vision for the future we want to see at the UA,” Roczniak said. “The success of the campaign ensures the UA’s place as a premier institution for cutting-edge research and academic achievement.”
The UA, like most other public universities nationwide, relies on private support to maintain its competitive advantage and financial health.
Gifts of all sizes, from $15 to $50 million, helped the Arizona NOW fundraising campaign reach its goal. Here are a few gifts that made a transformative impact on the UA:
- A gift of more than $50 million created the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice, which leverages the power of University-community partnerships to address environmental and social justice challenges. https://uanews.arizona.edu/story/50m-gift-haury-estate-focus-environment-society-and-southwest
- A $20 million gift from the family of master teacher and legendary horn player Fred Fox renamed the School of Music. It ensures the continued excellence of the school’s faculty and students through several endowments and scholarships. http://uanews.org/story/ua-college-of-fine-arts-announces-20m-gift
- Richard F. Caris’ $20 million gift guaranteed the UA’s role in the building of the Giant Magellan Telescope. https://uanews.arizona.edu/story/20-million-gift-pushes-ua-closer-to-the-stars
- A $5 million gift from Bruce and Patricia Bartlett was used to renovate the Patricia A. Bartlett Building, which houses the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center, and fund an initiative for providing innovative support and learning services for all students.http://www.uafoundation.org/about/news/articles/article_00114.shtml
- The Karl and Stevie Eller Professional Development Center, a $5 million addition to the Eller College of Management’s McClelland Hall, was funded solely through donations, including a lead gift from the Ellers. http://arizonaalumni.com/article/%E2%80%98secret-sauce%E2%80%99-job-seekers
It’s not too late to be counted in the Arizona NOW campaign. Gifts received through Dec. 31 will count toward the campaign total.
Learn more about the impact of Arizona NOW at CelebrateNOW.arizona.edu.
