University of Oregon supporters made 2022 the institution’s third highest fundraising year on record, with gifts totaling more than $689 million during the fiscal year ending June 30.

From a total of 45,943 gifts from 32,982 donors, the UO raised more than $172 million for student support, $235 million for faculty programs, and $138 million for capital projects. The number of people making first-time gifts increased by more than 41 percent while total gifts increased by 33 percent, according to Patrick Phillips, interim president and professor of biology.

“This past fundraising year included significant milestones for the University of Oregon,” Phillips said. “From launching new academic and research initiatives to hosting the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field, we are embarking on a very exciting phase of development and growth for the university.”

Building on the success of its historic $3.2 billion campaign, the UO achieved some longstanding goals in 2022, including the launch of The Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health in Portland and phase 2 of the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, Phillips said.

Fundraising highlights from the 2022 fiscal year included:

• $425 million gift from Connie and Steve Ballmer and the Ballmer Group to launch the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health in Portland.
• $5 million gift from the Papé Family for the Papé Family Innovation Center, which will include incubator spaces in Knight Campus.
• More than $172 million in student support including scholarships, academic supports and student emergency funding.
• $235 million for faculty programs.
• Over $5.7 million toward diversity-related funding, including more than $1 million for LGBTQA+ support.

Vice President for University Advancement Mike Andreasen credits the vision and passion of the UO community for such a successful fiscal year.

“From continued increases in first-time gifts to transformational gifts from longtime supporters, our donors are making a difference not just in the lives of students but for everyone in our state and beyond,” Andreasen said. 

About 36 percent of the UO’s supporters are alumni, but many also have connections as employees or as parents. First-time donors continue to account for a large share of gifts and are one of the fastest-growing contingents of supporters, accounting for 28 percent of donors, up 41 percent from fiscal 2021. Of total gifts, 61 percent came from Oregonians.