The University of Connecticut Foundation announced on Aug. 4 that they successfully raised over $144 million in fiscal year 2025. This is a $22 million dollar increase from fiscal year 2024, “marking one of the top fundraising years in its history,” according to a UConn Today article.
Of the $144 million, $68 million was raised in the last quarter of the fiscal year after the UConn Foundation announced their Because of UConn campaign, a multiyear fundraising campaign that aims to raise $1.5 billion. With the conclusion of FY25, the campaign has surpassed its halfway point, accumulating over $757 million.
According to the Because of UConn campaign’s website, the campaign is based around four pillars: students first, academic and innovation excellence, health and wellness of people and planet and Husky Pride.
The UConn Foundation received thousands of donations in FY25 and had an alumni engagement rate of 32%. The foundation received multiple large donations in FY25. It received a $15 million donation from alumni Denis and Britta Nayden to establish the Nayden Center for Academic Excellence, a $1.5 million bequest to the UConn School of Medicine from Donald and Jean Reefe and a $1.5 million gift to establish the Morris and Judy Sarna Breaking Bias and Creating Community Program Fund from Judy Sarna.
The UConn Hartford campus received almost $8 million in donations from both private and corporate donors in FY25, “a significant increase from prior years,” according to the UConn Today article. The article also said this will ensure “an accessible and affordable education for UConn students with an emphasis on residential student housing.”
The president and CEO of the UConn Foundation, Amy Yancey, talked about the launch of the Because of UConn campaign in the UConn Today article.
““I’m extremely grateful to our Campaign volunteers for leading us to a successful launch and to our donors for their unfailing vision and generosity to UConn and UConn Health through the Because of UConn Campaign this year,” Yancey said. “We broke many previous records and have set the stage for an unprecedented year ahead in support of our students, patients, faculty, innovation, and Husky Pride,” Yancy said.
Along with the $144 million raised in FY25, UConn’s endowment has grown to $670 million.
Entering the fiscal year 2026, the Because of UConn campaign has new initiatives prepared with the goal to “set new records and drive lasting progress for UConn students, faculty, and communities across the state and beyond,” according to the UConn Today article.