The campaign for UC Davis

The Campaign for UC Davis — a universitywide initiative to raise $1 billion in philanthropic support from 100,000 donors to further the university’s vision — launched publicly on Oct. 22, 2010. This is UC Davis’ first-ever comprehensive campaign, in which all private gifts and grants count toward the campaign goals. By advancing excellence, innovation, public service, opportunity and quality of life, the initiative supports all aspects of the university’s Vision of Excellence.

“The Campaign for UC Davis presents us with an unprecedented opportunity to further our bold vision for this university — to advance among the nation’s top public research universities and take the lead in identifying and addressing the globe’s most critical challenges,” said Chancellor Katehi. “We appreciate every gift and thank every donor who joins us in this effort.”

A billion-dollar campaign target is an ambitious one. Nationwide, only about 26 other colleges and universities are currently in campaigns of that scale.

Funds generated through the campaign will enable UC Davis to continue to fulfill its land-grant mission to identify and solve society’s problems. To support UC Davis’ Vision of Excellence, the campaign seeks to inspire gifts for student support, including Project You Can; endowed chairs and professorships; student and faculty scholarship, research and instruction; programs and patient care; the university environment; and emerging opportunities across the university.

The campaign launched publicly after a four-year quiet phase that began in July 2006. As of December 31, 2010, more than $623 million had been raised from more than 74,000 donors in support of the campaign. During the public phase, UC Davis is seeking to attract broad philanthropic support from UC Davis alumni and other supporters throughout the state, nation and world. The campaign is expected to last through 2014.

Margrit Mondavi and Maurice Gallagher, two of the university’s most generous benefactors, are the honorary co-chairs of The Campaign for UC Davis cabinet.

“I know of the many contributions UC Davis is making in California and across the globe,” Mondavi said. “It is a great university, with impact in many fields. For example, through arts and cultural programs and teaching and research in viticulture and enology, UC Davis is advancing the art of winemaking, is enriching lives and adding joie de vivre. I am proud to be part of this historic campaign.”

Some of the major contributions made during the campaign to date include:

• A $100 million commitment from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to launch a school of nursing. The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing welcomed its inaugural classes this past fall;
• A grant of nearly $16 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a five-year international research project aimed at combating malnutrition among children and pregnant women;
• A $10 million gift from Maurice J. Gallagher Jr. ’71 and his wife Marcia to name Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr. Hall, the home of the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, and to establish an endowment for the M.B.A. program.

For more information about how The Campaign for UC Davis is making an impact, please visit http://campaign.ucdavis.edu