CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa Foundation raised $39.9 million in support of UNI during the 2023-24 fiscal year. The past five years have been UNI’s top fundraising years to-date.

“We have enjoyed tremendous support from Panthers across the country throughout the Our Tomorrow campaign and this year was no exception,” said UNI President Mark Nook. “We had 9,065 donors step up and make this yet another impressive fundraising year. The success of the Our Tomorrow campaign and its impact on UNI students, faculty and staff would not be possible without our alumni and friends.” 

In October 2022, the university publicly launched Our Tomorrow: The Campaign for UNI. At its outset, the comprehensive fundraising campaign aimed to raise $250 million. In January 2024, the university announced it had surpassed the original $250 million campaign goal two and a half years early and raised the fundraising goal to $300 million. The current fundraising total stands at $279.9 million.

Nearly $17 million supported student access and success during the 2023-24 year. Fifty-one new scholarships were established by donors this year. These numbers push UNI past its original $75 million goal for scholarship support to nearly $90 million in new scholarship funding for UNI students. 

“Our alumni and donors believe in the life-changing power of a UNI education. It’s of the utmost importance to us to make UNI accessible to future generations of Panthers,” said Jim Jermier, vice president for University Advancement and president of the UNI Foundation.

Graduating seniors stepped up their financial support of the university with 221 giving as a part of the 2024 Senior Class Challenge. Those who gave at least $20.24 received purple and green philanthropy cords to wear at commencement to represent their Panther pride and the importance of philanthropic support of UNI alumni. 

Two new training facilities were added to the list of capital projects within the Our Tomorrow campaign. A planned wrestling training facility will serve as the new home for UNI wrestling while volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball will hone their craft in new practice facilities in a court sports training facility. These projects join three iconic spaces on the campaign’s list of capital projects – the Campanile, the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center and the UNI-Dome. In total, donors gave $5.6 million to support capital projects during the year.

“The new training facilities will build on the legacy UNI’s iconic spaces have in the hearts of Panther alumni and the Cedar Valley community,” said Jermier. “The facilities will meet the existing and future needs for each of these programs, and allow our teams to compete at the highest level.”

The single-largest day of giving continues to be April’s Live Purple Give Gold, an annual event dedicated to bringing Panthers together in support of UNI. There were 1,794 donors who gave $436,949 throughout the day. The median gift to the university during the fiscal year was $100.

To learn more about the University of Northern Iowa Foundation, visit foundation.uni.edu.