University of Northern Iowa fundraising campaign ends with more than $340 million

The University of Northern Iowa’s fundraising campaign garnered a record amount of donations that put it more than $90 million ahead of its original goal.

The Cedar Falls university’s “Our Tomorrow: The Campaign for UNI” initiative, publicly announced in 2022 but “quietly launched” in 2018, according to a Friday news release, has raised $342,842,222 from more than 34,000 donors.

“Throughout my time at UNI, I have been continually inspired by the Panther Family’s commitment to our students’ success,” UNI President Mark Nook said in the release. “A total of 34,031 alumni, employees and friends demonstrated that commitment by choosing to invest in UNI’s future, making the Our Tomorrow campaign the most successful fundraising campaign in UNI history.”

Officially announced during homecoming celebrations Friday evening, the campaign lasted eight years before closing June 30. The campaign began with a $250 million goal, which the university surpassed two years ahead of schedule in 2024. The goal was then raised to $300 million.

More than 147,900 gifts, 58 of which topped $1 million, made up the fundraising total, the release stated, with a median gift of $100 and 47% of donations representing the donors’ first gift to the institution. UNI saw donations from all 50 states and 17 countries.

Through the campaign, the release stated the university has established 556 new scholarship funds with $108 million in donations, 72% of which was endowed. Endowed support through the campaign totaled $159 million, and UNI’s endowment grew during the Our Tomorrow campaign from $113 million to $267 million.

Around one-third of the raised funds went to supporting academic programs, including nursing, business, engineering and more, and faculty saw $41 million in donations to support their work. Other student supports, including internships, clinical work, career preparation and other experiences received $7 million in donations, and undergraduate research received $2.1 million.

Panther Athletics at UNI received $74 million in campaign support, including $18 million for athletic scholarships, and $50 million went to capital projects on campus, the release stated.

Nook said in the release that all UNI community members should feel proud of the impact the campaign is making on students and the institution, now and in the future.

“Our donors have helped UNI meet the needs of students today while building resources that will support generations to come,” said Jim Jermier, vice president for university advancement and president of the UNI Foundation, in the release. “At the beginning of this campaign, we asked, ‘What does the world need from us tomorrow?’ Our alumni and friends answered with a belief in our students and investments that will shape the future of UNI.”