University of Georgia donors have set a fundraising record for the fifth year in a row. The $242 million dollars in new gifts and pledges this year to the Commit to Georgia Campaign is the second consecutive year that total has surpassed $200 million. Kelly Kerner, Vice President for development and alumni relations says those funds are making a difference.
“I think it’s important any time that you’re the midst of a fundraising campaign that you really talk, not just about the dollars frankly, but about the impact,” according to Kerner. “So to raise $242 million this year in gifts and pledges is an exciting thing, but I’m truly more excited about the way our students are going to impacted and therefore the state.”
Kerner says money for research at UGA has increased as well.
“Our research dollars have increased significantly in the last five years and that’s a great testimony again to our president’s vision for what the research enterprise can do for this university, but really more importantly for the state and the nation and, in some cases, the world. We have the smartest people, the best scientists, hopefully the best facilities.”
In addition to increased scholarships and research funding, a third priority of the campaign is to enhance the learning environment at UGA.
The eventual goal is the campaign is $1.2 billion by 2020.