The University of Nebraska Foundation is a private, nonprofit corporation that has provided financial support for the University of Nebraska since 1936. The foundation bridges relationships with alumni, friends, corporations and other foundations interested in a high-quality, affordable public university for Nebraska. Private support is vital to the university’s success in areas such as student scholarships, faculty fellowships and endowed chairs, academic programs, new or renovated facilities, athletics, research programs, museums and libraries.

In 2009, the university announced its largest comprehensive campaign in history, the Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities. The campaign set out to raise $1.2 billion for critical university initiatives including financial aid, faculty support, global engagement, agriculture and life sciences, information technology and business, cancer care and research, architectural engineering and construction, water for food, and early childhood education. In May 2012, the foundation announced that gifts to the Campaign for Nebraska had surpassed the $1.2 billion goal, with support from more than 80,000 people and organizations for all four campuses of the University of Nebraska. With this momentum, the campaign continues to focus on priorities through its conclusion in 2014.

Major gifts announced during the campaign include $50 million from the Robert B. Daugherty Charitable Foundation to create a global Water for Food Institute; $20 million from the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation to create an agribusiness entrepreneurship program at UNL; leadership gifts from Bill and Ruth Scott for the Center for Nursing Science at UNMC; leadership gifts toward a redevelopment project of Roskens Hall at UNO; and $2 million from an anonymous donor to support the music program at UNK.

Alumni and friends gave $165 million in support of the University of Nebraska during the 2012 fiscal year through the University of Nebraska Foundation. Nearly $124 million was transferred to the university’s statewide system during the same period. These funds were directed by donors to support many areas including student and faculty support, research, academic programs, campus and capital improvements, alumni associations, and museums, libraries and fine arts programs.

The University of Nebraska Foundation’s offices are located near the university’s campuses in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney. The foundation also has a fourth office in Scottsbluff. The foundation’s new CEO, Brian Hastings, was announced in July 2012.