Private Support

Philanthropic support to UC Davis totaled $112.3 million in fiscal year 2009-10, exceeding last year’s total of $108.1 million and marking the fourth year in a row that private support to the university has surpassed $100 million.

More than 41,000 donors made 48,228 total contributions to the university during 2009-10. These donors included alumni, faculty, staff, parents, students and other supporters, as well as corporations, foundations and other organizations.

Chancellor Katehi expressed her appreciation for the many donors who helped advance the university’s mission and vision through their philanthropic support.

“On behalf of the entire UC Davis community, I am grateful to the university’s many generous donors,” Chancellor Katehi said. “Their contributions provide critical support for the groundbreaking teaching, research and public service taking place at this university. UC Davis has begun its second century with a bold and transformative vision for the future, a vision of excellence, and philanthropic contributions are essential to our success.”

Private contributions to UC Davis included support for students, faculty, research, programs, campus improvements, patient care and other purposes. Contributions came in all sizes; more than 38,000 were for less than $1,000.

“Donors choose to give to UC Davis for many different reasons, in support of many diverse areas of excellence across the university,” said Cheryl Brown Lohsé, associate vice chancellor for development and secretary of the UC Davis Foundation. “The breadth of UC Davis’ strengths attracts donors with a variety of philanthropic priorities. We appreciate the support of each and every donor, and thank them for their dedication.”

Some of the highlights of the year’s philanthropic contributions are:

• A gift of more than $1.2 million for student scholarships from the estate of Violet E. Stenson;
• A $1.5 million gift from the Lanie Albrecht Foundation to establish the Albrecht Chair in Basic Science at the UC Davis Cancer Center;
• A $1.4 million gift from the estate of Brad and Mary Stuart Krause to the School of Veterinary Medicine to support the construction of a new research facility at the school;
• More than $1.7 million in contributions to the UC Davis Annual Fund from more than 13,000 donors (Gifts to the Annual Fund provide unrestricted support for the university’s immediate needs, including student scholarships and faculty support, as well as areas of emerging opportunity).

Each of UC Davis’ 10 colleges and professional schools benefited from private support. The UC Davis Health System received the most philanthropic support, at $29.8 million. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences received the second highest amount, at $25.2 million, followed by the School of Veterinary Medicine, at $23.1 million.

UC Davis private support totals are reported in accordance with university and national guidelines as set forth by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, an association of educational institutions.

Private support for UC Davis is used for the purposes designated by the donors. Gifts to UC Davis are accepted both through the UC Davis Foundation and the UC Regents. In addition to accepting philanthropic contributions on behalf of the university, the foundation exists to help promote philanthropy for UC Davis and invests and manages private contributions. It is led by a volunteer fundraising board of trustees.