CELEBRATE 150: The Campaign for UNH is looking to finish strong as it heads into the second and final year of its public phase. At the campaign launch celebration last September, UNH President Mark W. Huddleston announced that since July 2011, more than 35,000 donors had contributed $225 million toward the $275 million goal. In all, 21,622 donors participated during the first public year of CELEBRATE 150, helping bring the total raised to $269 million.
“In the past year, thousands of UNH graduates, parents and friends have contributed $47 million toward the campaign during the most successful fundraising year ever,” says Huddleston. “This success gives me confidence that we will surpass our goal during the final year of the campaign — and that a total of $300 million or more could be within our sights.”
CELEBRATE 150: The Campaign for UNH focuses on five priority areas that support scholarship, teaching and research at the university. All gifts to UNH count toward the goal of this comprehensive campaign, which ends on June 30, 2018.
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On the Road to $275 Million and Beyond
As of June 30, 2017, UNH has raised $269.3 million through CELEBRATE 150: The Campaign for UNH—98 percent of the campaign’s $275 million goal.
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Campaign Success Forges a Granite Guarantee
Thanks to $103.2 million in campaign gifts supporting scholarships and student aid, UNH has been able to take a significant step toward realizing the first focus of CELEBRATE 150 — ensuring that any qualified student can come to — and graduate from — UNH without incurring crippling debt. The Granite Guarantee is a new financial aid program for New Hampshire students eligible for Pell grants. It provides grant aid that does not need to be paid back to bridge the gap between the cost of UNH in-state tuition and a student’s Pell grant. In short, it is a guarantee that New Hampshire students with significant financial need can attend UNH tuition-free.
Starting in the fall, more than 400 students will receive Granite Guarantee funding at least equal to tuition ($14,770 at the Durham campus and $14,420 at the Manchester campus). Many students are receiving funds in excess of tuition; the average Granite Guarantee recipient is receiving $16,000 in scholarship and grant aid. Aid amounts beyond the cost of tuition are applied to other expenses, such as textbooks and room and board.
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Philanthropy Moves UNH Forward
Significant gifts have both fueled campaign success and allowed the university to expand or create programs and complete capital projects that are central to the UNH experience. Individual philanthropy has enabled the completion of Wildcat Stadium, established a new fund to help UNH students study abroad, created an entrepreneurship center and related programs on campus, and bolstered central and college-based resources for promoting career and professional success, including the ongoing renovation of Hood House. These are but a few examples of the visionary and inspiring generosity that has been the hallmark of CELEBRATE 150: The Campaign for UNH.
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Reunion Giving
Of and for UNH
The reunion classes that convened on campus in June to reminisce and reconnect also rallied to support UNH, often via funds established during an earlier reunion year, such as the Class of 1957 Endowed Scholarship Fund, the Class of 1957 Fund for the Center for International Education and the Class of 1962 Student Enrichment Fund.
On the occasion of their 50th reunion, members of the Class of 1967 established their own scholarship fund to support undergraduate and graduate students participating in unpaid internships. Says Dick Knight ’67, “I think the milestone of 50 years since I graduated is about as big a milestone as you can find [and] this ties in perfectly with upping the ante.”
The Class of 1977 set a high bar for the inaugural 40th reunion with an impressive $11.5 million reunion class gift. The gift includes an $8 million bequest pledge from Jude Blake ’77 to support Paul College students, Northeast Passage and the Shoals Marine Laboratory.
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The Granite Society: Annual Giving Leaders
The Granite Society recognizes annual gifts to UNH of $1,000 or more. While every single gift makes a difference, this year’s 2,291 Granite Society members had big ideas in mind when they supported UNH with leadership gifts, the impact of which are felt across the university. Granite Society members enjoy exclusive opportunities to engage with UNH, such as online and on-campus lectures with UNH experts.
Annual Giving
Providing regular, vital and immediate support for students and programs
The vast majority of campaign donors contribute through annual gifts of $5 to $500. The impact of those gifts is as far-reaching and varied as the students, faculty and staff who call this place home. They make meaningful opportunities possible across UNH’s three campuses — from scholarships to sustainability programs, athletics to study abroad experiences, and everything in between.
During the past fiscal year, 21,691 donors hailing from every state and 18 countries supported UNH with gifts totaling more than $47.6 million. 20,554 of those donors made current-use gifts totaling $5.7 million, and more than a third of those who also gave in 2015-16 increased their giving last year. Thank you to all who supported UNH this year — you make every day a great day to be a Wildcat!
Annual Giving By the Numbers
Dollars Raised //
Total giving to UNH: $47,683,332
Annual gifts: $5,746,393
Average annual gift: $280
Donors who gave less than $500: 85%
Donors who gave less than $100: 45%
$3,120 — Average financial aid award from donor-supported scholarship funds
Gift Designations //
Areas supported by annual gifts: 828
Top designations (number of donors):
- Scholarships
- Athletics
- Northeast Passage
- College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- Paul College of Business and Economics
Donors //
Originally published in UNH Magazine Fall 2017 Issue
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Written By:
Laura Chisholm | Communications and Public Affairs | Laura.Chisholm@unh.edu
