Private support of $384.5 million a new annual record for CU

Private contributions to the University of Colorado set a new record this year, with more than $384.5 million in support coming from individuals, foundations and corporations.

The preliminary total for the fiscal year that ended June 30 represents a new single-year record and is an increase of 4.5 percent over the fiscal year 2015. That total of $367.9 million included the gift of The Wildlife Experience facility – now the home of CU South Denver – from the family of Dave and Gail Liniger. The property’s $40 million value made it the largest real estate donation in CU history.

“We are extremely grateful to our donors and alumni, to charitable foundations and corporations, whose generous contributions help support our vision to be one of the top public universities in the world,” said CU President Bruce D. Benson. “Our success in fundraising directly benefits students, faculty, programs and initiatives, and adds value to CU’s high-quality academic and research enterprises." 

This preliminary figure, which includes funds given through both the University of Colorado Foundation and the university, marks the seventh consecutive year in which CU has exceeded the previous year’s total, setting records in each. More than 54,000 individuals, foundations and corporations made nearly 67,000 gifts to support student scholarships, facilities, research and more on CU’s four campuses.

“We strive every day to make sure that the CU Foundation, the primary portal for philanthropic giving to the university, delivers exceptional customer service to donors and provides excellent stewardship of the financial resources entrusted to us, which are overseen by our Investment Committee,” said CU Foundation President Jack Finlaw. “As of June 30, the 2,510 endowments held by the foundation for the benefit of the university were valued at $1.06 billion.” 

The record $384.5 million total broken down by campus is:

• University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus: $203 million
• University of Colorado Boulder: $145.8 million
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs: $19.5 million
• University of Colorado Denver: $14.8 million
• CU system: $1.3 million

Examples of the impact of private support at CU during the 2015-16 fiscal year include:

• CU Anschutz Medical Campus:  Philanthropic support for cancer initiatives totaled nearly $27.5 million, supporting leading-edge research and individualized care at the CU Cancer Center and across the CU School of Medicine. The CU Cancer Center is Colorado’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, a reflection of its outstanding contributions to research, clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. The center this year attained the “highest ever score” following the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant competitive renewal application review.
• University of Colorado Boulder:  An emphasis on raising funds to support student scholarships resulted in $32.8 million in gifts toward this priority. Fred and Stephanie Harman of Woodside, California, are the parents of Stephen, a 2015 CU Boulder graduate. The Harmans wanted to make a significant impact on student success and directed a $100,000 gift to support scholarships for the Guardian Scholars program, which benefits students who have aged out of the foster care system.
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs: Helen Clement, a retired registered nurse, is continuing her advocacy of medical education through the Clement Family Endowed Scholarship Program. Thanks to a recent commitment, including a current gift and bequest expected to total about $3.4 million, it will provide full scholarships annually to two undergraduates at the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The commitment will eventually enable many more scholarships in health and medicine.
• University of Colorado Denver:  An estate gift of $365,000 established the Grover W. Hall Jr. Memorial Endowed Engineering Scholarship in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Hall, who retired as vice president of technical operations for Lockheed Martin’s astronautics division after 39 years with the firm, was a first-generation college student who advocated for the value of higher education. The gift ensures that talented students have the financial assistance they need to overcome obstacles to their progress.