July 17, 2018
by Jere W. Morehead, President
I am overwhelmed with gratitude to University of Georgia donors, who, for the fifth consecutive year, have set a record in annual fundraising. In Fiscal Year 2018, our loyal faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends contributed a total of $242 million in new gifts and pledges to the Commit to Georgia Campaign. It is the second consecutive year that donations have exceeded $200 million.
This year’s fundraising total doubles the amount raised five years ago. The three-year rolling average—a figure that measures sustained growth over time—has now reached $217.9 million and is nearly 90 percent higher than it was in 2013. More than 140,000 donors have contributed to the Commit to Georgia Campaign, which has raised over $1 billion toward its ultimate goal of $1.2 billion by 2020.
I am particularly pleased that donors have established 260 endowed, need-based scholarships through the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program. These undergraduate scholarships provide assistance, year after year, to deserving students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, creating pathways to futures that would otherwise be unreachable.
Donors in FY18 helped create 18 new endowed faculty positions, bringing the total to 289, up from 227 five years ago. These endowed positions are an investment in the great potential of our faculty to expand the boundaries of knowledge, to answer the important questions of our time, and to help improve lives and communities.
I am deeply grateful to all of our donors for their dedication and generosity. In addition, UGA Foundation Trustees deserve tremendous thanks for their strong leadership and commitment to this institution, which have been central to the Commit to Georgia Campaign’s success. Finally, I would like to thank our outstanding faculty, staff, and students, who work tirelessly every day to advance the mission of UGA and expand its positive impact. The future of this institution—and, indeed, the future of our state, nation, and world—is brighter than ever.