UCA breaks fundraising records

The University of Central Arkansas set multiple fundraising records during the last academic year, raising $30,051,844 and it issued $1,478,259 in private scholarships, the school said.

These numbers represent a 193% increase when compared to the previous academic year, setting an all-time record for private dollars raised in a single year. Scholarship dollars awarded increased by more than 20%, with 771 students receiving private scholarships, up from 690 the previous year.

“I am thrilled that we continue to raise more and more private funds for university support and specifically, for student scholarships,” UCA President Houston Davis said. “The generosity of our donors ensures our students — many of whom are first-generation college students — have the resources they need to earn life-changing college degrees and impact economic and cultural growth in Arkansas and beyond.”

Additionally, the university added more than 1,800 new donors and had a 78% increase in major gifts.

“Securing 114 major gifts doesn’t happen by accident. That reflects the hard work of a dedicated team of professionals who love UCA,” Dr. T. Kale Gober, vice president for University Advancement and president of the UCA Foundation said. “This level of giving is a testament to our incredible donors. They see the trajectory and feel the excitement under Houston Davis’ leadership, so they are investing with confidence and enthusiasm.”

The UCA Foundation was also awarded the largest gift in the history of the university — a $20 million challenge gift from the Windgate Foundation in support of the arts. A total of $19 million will support the construction of the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts and the other $1 million will be added to the Windgate Scholarship Fund. It will be used to build classrooms, studio, rehearsal and design spaces.

The school raised $757,000 on the university’s fifth annual Day of Giving in March, a 74% increase from 2017-18, and $719,000 raised in private scholarship support at UCA’s debut Laurels & Stripes fundraising gala.

The UCA Foundation’s net assets are $53,754,909 and the current total endowment level is $29,078,210. The foundation has 210 fully endowed scholarships and has awarded more than $12 million in scholarship support since its inception in 1981.