University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson today announced that CU-Boulder has increased its fundraising by nearly 80 percent in the past two years, moving from approximately $32 million two years ago to nearly $58 million this past year.
"It's an exciting development, and a testimony to the confidence people have in the University of Colorado at Boulder," said Peterson. "I believe they like what we are doing and particularly, where we are headed as a university."
Peterson said the 43 percent year-over-year increase in fundraising is the largest increase among the University of Colorado's three campuses and the highest amount of fundraising ever achieved at CU-Boulder.
CU Foundation President Wayne Hutchens said a large part of the success CU-Boulder is enjoying in fundraising is attributable to the leadership and vision established as part of Flagship 2030, CU-Boulder's strategic plan.
"People believe that CU-Boulder is well managed and well led - I hear that all the time," said Hutchens. "But beyond those important basics, they are moved to invest in CU because the university is moving in a bold, visionary direction under Flagship 2030. They see that CU-Boulder is focusing on the future - on making the campus a global center of innovation.
"Simply put," said Hutchens, "there is a lot to believe in at CU-Boulder, and the gifts from our donors reflect the strength of that belief."
A good example of that belief, said Hutchens, was revealed this past spring when the CU-Boulder campus partnered with the Foundation to leverage a first-time-ever gift that helped to bring Tom Cech, CU-Boulder's 1989 Nobel laureate in chemistry, back to CU-Boulder. Cech will return to the Boulder campus next spring after his tenure as director of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ends.
Peterson credits a CU-Boulder leadership team with "great energy and dynamism," a faculty "immersed in a culture of achievement and innovation," the tireless work of CU staff and "a public that has dared to give us a chance to earn back its confidence after a very challenging period in the university's history."
"That willingness to hold us accountable, but also to let us make needed changes and to get back into the business of realizing our aspirations, is as much behind where we are with fundraising as anything," said Peterson. "We will continue to be wise stewards of these gifts and the support they represent, and together, we will take this university to the greatest achievements it has yet known."