Donors to the University of California, Davis, gave robust support to the university last year, exceeding its annual fundraising goal by more than $27 million. Data announced today (Aug. 8) show the university raised $253 million in FY22-23 in 56,071 gifts and pledges from 31,078 donors.

“UC Davis donors surpass our expectations every year, but this year was especially meaningful,” Chancellor Gary S. May said. “We recognize that the rising cost of living is a challenge for many, yet our community continued to prioritize philanthropy to UC Davis. We are deeply grateful for their partnership to impact the world around us.”

All gifts support UC Davis’ comprehensive fundraising campaign, Expect Greater: From UC Davis, For the World, the largest philanthropic endeavor in university history. Together, donors and UC Davis are advancing work to prepare future leaders, sustain healthier communities, and bring innovative solutions to today’s most urgent challenges.

Top fundraisers overall included the School of Veterinary Medicine, $58.4 million; and UC Davis Health, $52.3 million. In addition, donors gave at record levels to several areas, resulting in highest-ever funding totals for the College of Biological Sciences, $18.4 million; Undergraduate Student Aid, $3.5 million; and the UC Davis Annual Fund (unrestricted support the chancellor directs to research, teaching and urgent needs), $2.2 million.

Noteworthy gifts

• Alzheimer’s research: Life sciences industry expert Deborah Neff ’76 is giving $8 million to the College of Biological Sciences for two endowments, one for the deanship and the other for the Center for Neuroscience for research into Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The gift is the largest by an individual in the college’s history.
• Faculty generosity: Jay Lund, distinguished professor of civil engineering, and his wife, Jean Lund, have given $800,000 to endow graduate student fellowships at the Center for Watershed Sciences. The largest gift in the center’s history, the endowment will encourage interdisciplinary water management research by graduate students.
• Student food security: Opened in April, the AggieEats food truck serves up to 500 free and pay-what-you-want student meals each school day during the regular academic year. It is believed to be the first of its kind for a university. The truck is a partnership of the donor-supported Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center, Student Housing and Dining Services and the Division of Student Affairs.
• Seventh annual Give Day: The UC Davis community provided glowing support for this year’s Give Day during Picnic Day weekend, April 14-15. With more than 4,800 online and in-person donations, the annual event raised nearly $3.4 million. More than 650 UC Davis employees gave. Donations from alumni, friends, faculty and staff, students, business and community partners and others poured in from 44 states and 13 countries.

Grand openings

The university also celebrated several new building openings, all made possible by funding from donors across multiple years of the Expect Greater campaign, including gifts in FY22-23.

“Donors are quite literally transforming our university with their generosity,” said Shaun B. Keister, vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations and president of the UC Davis Foundation. “Thanks to their support, we are able to build state-of-the art facilities that benefit the work and lives of our entire community — students, faculty, patients and more.”

Among the most notable, UC Davis Athletics dedicated the Edwards Family Athletics Center on Sept. 24, with more than 300 people celebrating the new hub for Aggie student athletes: for strength and conditioning, sports medicine, team meetings and academic support.

On Dec. 5, UC Davis Health welcomed the first patients to its state-of-the-art Ernest E. Tschannen Eye Institute Building. The innovative facility is dedicated to advancing world-class eye care and offering hope for sight restoration through advanced technology, pioneering research and leading eye care clinicians.

And the College of Engineering had a ribbon-cutting for the Diane Bryant Engineering Student Design Center May 5. The space features a 23,000-square-foot design center, instruction and meeting rooms, and specialized tools and spaces for prototyping and manufacturing.