The University of Georgia concluded its best fundraising year in history on June 30, posting $126.4 million in new gifts and commitments for the 2014 fiscal year. This total reflects an 8 percent increase over last year’s total of $117.3 million and marks only the second year that private giving to the university has exceeded $120 million. 

The total includes gifts and pledges from 56,897 contributors, representing a 4 percent increase over the previous year.

“This record year is a tribute to the faith our alumni and friends have in the future of our great university,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “It is also a testament to the hard work of the Division of Development and Alumni Relations, our schools and colleges, many other university units, our UGA Foundation trustees and our UGA Alumni Association leaders, who make the case for private support. All of us at the University of Georgia are deeply grateful. As president, I pledge to use these resources to advance the university in very significant and positive ways.”

John Spalding, chair of the UGA Foundation, also was pleased with the result. 

“My thanks to President Morehead for his thoughtful leadership,” Spalding said. “This success is a tribute to his guidance, the hard work of the university’s development staff, and to the trustees on our board for their strong engagement in fundraising efforts. Most of all, I am grateful to our donors for their continued support. It’s been a wonderful team effort that is helping further the University of Georgia’s standing as one of the nation’s great public institutions of higher education.” 

This record-setting year is notable in that no single major gift had a disproportionate impact on the total. The previous record-setting year of $126.2 million in fiscal year 2011 included a $42.5 million gift. The new record represents a groundswell of support from many more individual donors.

The Georgia Fund annual giving campaign represented 13.4 percent of the total raised, with a record $16.9 million to support the university and its schools, colleges and units.