The University of Nebraska Foundation is a private, nonprofit corporation that has provided financial support for the University of Nebraska since 1936. The foundation bridges relationships with alumni, friends, corporations and other foundations interested in a high-quality, affordable public university for Nebraska. Private support is vital to the university’s success in areas such as student scholarships, faculty fellowships and endowed chairs, academic programs, new or renovated facilities, athletics, research programs, museums and libraries.

In fall 2009, the university announced its largest comprehensive campaign in history, the Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities. The campaign seeks to raise $1.2 billion by 2014 for critical university initiatives including financial aid, faculty support, global engagement, agriculture and life sciences, information technology, cancer, architectural engineering and construction, water, and early childhood education. On Oct. 15, 2010, the foundation announced that gifts to the Campaign for Nebraska had reached $844 million.

Major gifts announced recently include $50 million from the Robert B. Daugherty Charitable Foundation to create a global Water for Food Institute; $20 million from the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation to create an agribusiness entrepreneurship program at UNL; leadership gifts from Bill and Ruth Scott for the Center for Nursing Science at UNMC; leadership gifts toward a redevelopment project of Roskens Hall at UNO; and $2 million from an anonymous donor to support the music program at UNK.

The foundation also announced on Oct. 15, 2010, that the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, was its second-best year ever, with $136.9 million in gifts received. During the same year, $107.3 million was transferred to the University of Nebraska – also the second-best year ever. Funds transferred to the university went toward student and faculty support, research, academic programs, campus and capital improvements, alumni associations, and museums, libraries and fine arts programs.

The University of Nebraska Foundation’s offices are located near the university’s campuses in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney. The foundation also has a fourth office in Scottsbluff.