CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign launched a $2.25 billion philanthropic campaign, the largest in the school’s history, in October 2017. As of March 1, the “With Illinois” campaign has recorded $2.268 billion in gifts and commitments.
Officials say the campaign is far from finished, as “With Illinois” will continue into 2022 to address a variety of ongoing needs.
“The need for private support in higher education is greater than ever before, especially in these uniquely challenging times,” Chancellor Robert J. Jones said. “We are so grateful to our alumni and friends who continue to step up with their tremendous passion and pride for the university. Their generosity is truly inspirational and contributes to a very bright future for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.”
From named colleges to COVID-19-relief funds, the success of the campaign can be attributed to nearly 730,000 gifts of all sizes from over 158,000 donors. Of these gifts, one-third of the total raised to date is comprised of deferred gifts or multiyear pledges that will be fulfilled over the coming years. Approximately 99% of the university’s documented gifts and commitments are restricted by the donor either to a particular college or unit, or allocated by gift agreement toward a defined initiative and cannot be used for an alternative purpose.
“As a trustee and donor, I am proud of the ‘With Illinois’ campaign’s success, and deeply grateful to our supporters for their generosity and to our advancement team for its hard work,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Don Edwards, an Illinois alumnus whose gifts include a $10 million donation with his wife, Anne, that is the largest ever by a U. of I. trustee. “This historic campaign will reap benefits for the university and its students for generations to come.”
In addition to the respective priorities within each of the colleges and units, Barry Benson, the vice chancellor for institutional advancement, said the university is committed to securing additional private resources toward student scholarships, faculty and staff support, capital projects and the other life-changing programmatic initiatives underway at Illinois, such as the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.
“Throughout the entire university, donors to the ‘With Illinois’ campaign have generously provided critical philanthropic funds to create the necessary margin of excellence a university like Illinois demands. We thank them profusely for their unwavering and continued investment in the university,” Benson said.
Editor’s note: For more information contact Barry Benson, vice chancellor for advancement, 217-300-5671, bensonb@illinois.edu.
