NU launches Unlimited Possibilities fundraising campaign

The University of Nebraska Foundation announced a new phase of fundraising on Oct. 16 aimed at setting a record $1.2 billion in donations for the University of Nebraska system.

The Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities fundraiser seeks to bring in the money to meet high-priority opportunities and needs for the system's four campuses.

Unlimited Possibilities, started in 2005 and set to wrap up in 2014, is the third and thus far most ambitious fundraising effort in the foundation's 73-year history. So far the campaign has raised $642 million, more than half of its proposed goal.

"The primary goal of the fundraiser is to create more opportunities for students," said Robb Crouch, director of public relations for the foundation. "Some of the higher priority areas would be to expand scholarships, specifically merit-based scholarships so as to attract more of the top students in this state, as well as study abroad. Of course, the money could also be put to help out certain departments, including areas where the university already excels, such as agriculture and life sciences, cancer research and care, information technology, various water programs, early childhood education, as well as architectural engineering and construction."

It is proposed that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will receive roughly $500 million from the fundraiser. However, exactly where the money will go depends entirely on the donors, according to Chancellor Harvey Perlman.

"The money is raised completely by private donors, and so the money goes where they want it to go," Perlman said. "Very rarely do we have a donor who just gives us money and tells us to do whatever we want with it. Of course, we have various university projects which we propose to the donors, but ultimately they have the final say."

Among the donors thus far is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has donated to the university in the past. Contributions from the Gates Foundation helped establish the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management. Raikes is currently the CEO of the Gates Foundation.

"Donors can include alumni, friends of the university, other organizations and other individuals who would like to help the campus succeed," Crouch said.

Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities is the third fundraising attempt by the University of Nebraska Foundation. The first was the Nebraska Campaign, conducted from 1977 to 1980, followed by Campaign Nebraska: One University, One Nebraska from 1993 to 2000. Both campaigns exceeded their original goals, the former raking in $51 million and the latter earning $727 million.

"These fundraisers are done more or less in a periodic manner," Perlman said. "New ones are conducted every so often, whenever new donors become available, so there will certainly be more in the future."

alekzayas-dorchak@dailynebraskan.com