- \n
- Funding for students\u2019 emergency needs increased by 930% in fiscal year 2026 through the Students First Fund, helping students who face financial hardships like a family illness, car repair, or even the cost of a textbook.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Academic & Innovation Excellence:<\/strong> Donors gave $352.37 million for faculty, graduate students, and research.<\/li>\n
- Health & Wellness of People & Planet:<\/strong> Donors contributed $106.87 million for UConn Health and sustainability initiatives.<\/li>\n
- Husky Pride<\/strong>: Donors gave $219.77 million for student-athletes and athletic programs.\n
- \n
- Community members also participated more than 1 million times in campaign alumni engagement opportunities including giving, events, volunteering, social media, storytelling, and other forms of connection, helping the campaign reach 85% percent of its engagement goal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Donors have provided 33,159 scholarships and fellowships to students since the campaign began and helped increase the University endowment to $715.26 million.<\/p>\n
![\"Images](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
Emergency support for students increased 930% in fiscal year 2026. (Desiray Green\/UConn Foundation)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u201cI know firsthand the power of a UConn education, as well as the financial challenges faced by students like I was,\u201d said UConn Board of Trustees Chair and Campaign Co-Chair Daniel D. Toscano \u201987 (BUS). \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s so meaningful to see our alumni, donors, and friends continue to invest in the next generation of Huskies. This year, one of the most rewarding efforts was working alongside our campaign committee to raise more than $700,000 for the Students First Fund. Those resources provide critical support when students face unexpected challenges, helping ensure that a temporary hardship doesn\u2019t become a barrier to earning a UConn degree.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Foundation also created the Dominique S. Matteson \u201903 Endowment Fund for Students First in partnership with the Matteson family in honor of the beloved alumna and UConn Foundation staff member who passed away in 2025. It is the first endowment to provide stable funding for students\u2019 emergency needs in perpetuity.<\/p>\n
Leading gifts for each of the campaign\u2019s four pillars have helped propel the campaign from November 2025\u2019s $800 million mark to $900 million:<\/p>\n
- \n
- A $15 million commitment from Robert Skinner \u201993 (CLAS) and Stefanie Skinner will support UConn Athletics, including a $10 million planned gift to establish a permanent endowed fund in support of the head coaches of the men’s and women’s basketball programs. The gift aligns with the Husky Pride pillar.<\/li>\n
- The Elisabeth C. DeLuca Foundation committed $10.45 million to create new pathways to nursing and STEM careers for Waterbury students. This year\u2019s commitment builds on the DeLuca Foundation\u2019s previous $50 million gift to nursing. Their campaign gifts align with the Students First, Academic & Innovation Excellence, and Health & Wellness of People & Planet pillars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The campaign has demonstrated broad-based support from UConn\u2019s donor community of alumni, friends, parents, faculty, staff, and UConn Health patients in Connecticut and beyond, as well as corporations and philanthropic organizations like family foundations. At the $900 million mark, 69,655\u00a0donors had made 276,868 gifts, with 89%\u00a0of gifts under $1,000.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the campaign moves closer to $1 billion, the Foundation is inviting members of the UConn community to support or volunteer with areas of the university that mean the most to you,\u201d said Michael Van Sambeck \u201912 (CLAS), \u201922 MBA, vice president of principal giving and campaign director at the UConn Foundation. \u201cUConn\u2019s next chapter is taking shape because of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
- Health & Wellness of People & Planet:<\/strong> Donors contributed $106.87 million for UConn Health and sustainability initiatives.<\/li>\n
![\"Images](\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Fall_Students_Stock-38-300x200.jpg\")