July 17, 2017
by Jere W. Morehead, President
In the first year of the public phase of the Commit to Georgia campaign, UGA donors set a new record in fundraising, contributing $227.8 million in new gifts and pledges.
This marks the fourth consecutive year that UGA donors have set a new record in fundraising and the first time in the University’s long history that the annual total has surpassed $200 million. The unprecedented total represents a 24 percent increase over last year’s record of $183.8 million and nearly doubles the amount raised in FY13.
Private giving toward the campaign already is making a difference: 115 need-based endowed scholarships, for example, have been created through the Georgia Commitment Scholarship program since its introduction in January. Most of these new scholarships will be awarded in the fall to incoming first-year students with unmet financial need.
The first year of the public phase likely will produce the highest annual fundraising total for this campaign, with fluctuations up and down in the years to come. However, the overarching goal of the campaign is to elevate annual fundraising levels for the long-term. That is why we are tracking the three-year rolling average—which is now 60 percent higher than FY13 at $185.2 million—to provide a better measure of sustained growth over time.
When the University launched the public phase of the campaign last fall, we called on our alumni and friends to help us expand the impact of this great University on the world. They are answering that call with extraordinary generosity and support, and I am deeply grateful.