UA Little Rock Foundation gifts total nearly $48 million in record-breaking year

Central ArkansasEducationNews Briefs

by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) August 18, 2020 3:49 pm 451 views 

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock had its highest fundraising year to date with alumni and donors giving a record-breaking $47,941,061.

“Now more than ever, UA Little Rock is grateful for the support of our donors who continue to invest in the future of our university,” UA Little Rock Chancellor Christina Drale said. “Even now, as people are coping with a global pandemic, our community has continued to give so that we can provide students with opportunity and a pathway to success.”

Fiscal year 2020 included the largest gift received in UA Little Rock’s 93-year history, a transformational gift of $25 million from an anonymous donor to support the university’s strategic enrollment management plan. The gift includes $10 million for a Student Success Endowment Fund to expand and permanently support the university’s student retention and success initiatives and $15 million for need-based scholarships for undergraduate students.

The year of fundraising also included:

  • An 8-figure anonymous estate gift to provide scholarships for students.
  • Increased annual giving toward emergency scholarships to help students with unexpected financial burdens due to COVID-19.
  • Expanded national fundraising efforts that brought about giving from alumni living outside of Arkansas, including a $250,000 endowed scholarship to the College of Business, Health, and Human Services.
  • A $269,160 gift to create the Wylie D. Cavin Endowed Scholarship for students at the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law.

More than 6,800 individuals, corporations, and private foundations gave 25,901 gifts between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020.

This is the fourth consecutive year of gift growth for UA Little Rock, with $20 million raised in 2019, $17.7 million in 2018, and $17.5 million in 2017.

“I’m inspired by the generosity of our donors,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement. “I hear stories on a daily basis from current and former students who have felt the difference private support makes in their lives and in our community. This keeps the case for giving to UA Little Rock strong.”