UC Davis Health System

09/17/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/17/2021 16:41

A record-breaking fundraising year for UC Davis Health

Thanks to the generosity of UC Davis supporters around the world, the 2020-2021 fiscal year (July 2020 to June 2021) was a record-breaking fundraising year for UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

UC Davis Health raised a record $72.3 million in gifts during the 2020-2021 fiscal year, thanks to generous donors.

UC Davis raised an all-time high of $269.4 million. UC Davis Health led the giving totals across the university, with a record $72.3 million donated during the fiscal year. These donations help to fund patient care, medical research into new treatments, and student education for the next generation of health care providers.

'Our record-breaking fundraising year positions us to build a stronger, greater, more just university,' Chancellor Gary S. May said. 'Thanks to our generous supporters and our resilient community, we're one step closer to making the world a better place for all.'

UC Davis Health has raised more than 75% of its Expect Greater campaign goal, with more than $375.5 million donated toward the campaign goal of $500 million. It wasn't just total donation amounts that increased. Over the last fiscal year, 10,450 donors gave 26,087 gifts - more than in the previous fiscal year, which saw 9,668 donors and 24,649 gifts received.

UC Davis Health endowment gifts also increased to a total of $53 million, and donations received on Give Day increased to over $410,000, up 26% over the $325,540 donated in the previous year.

'Despite the challenges of the pandemic, our donors and friends enabled us to achieve a historic year in fundraising,' said David Lubarsky, CEO of UC Davis Health and Vice Chancellor for Human Health Sciences. 'They gave extraordinarily generous gifts because they know their investments in our people - our students, our faculty, our researchers - are keeping patients healthier, delivering clinical innovations that improve health for everyone and protect our community's health into the future.'

Among the many standout gifts to UC Davis Health was a $4 million commitment from entrepreneur and philanthropist Daryl Geweke. The gift will establish two Daryl and Opal Geweke Endowed Chairs for Glaucoma - one for research and one for care - at the UC Davis Health Eye Center.

'Our donors and friends gave extraordinarily generous gifts because they know their investments in our people - our students, our faculty, our researchers - are keeping patients healthier, delivering clinical innovations that improve health for everyone and protect our community's health into the future.'

- David Lubarsky, CEO
UC Davis Health

One notable area of giving was to emergency relief. While the pandemic continues to burden the world, 2,234 donors have supported such funding at UC Davis, which now stands at $345,614. These funds help UC Davis Health experts set the standard for advanced research, testing and treatment, including more than 100,000 COVID-19 tests. Earlier this month, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities recognized UC Davis for these efforts with its first-ever Research Response to Community Crisis Award.

Since the launch of the largest philanthropic endeavor in university history, 'Expect Greater: From UC Davis, for the World,' last October, UC Davis has raised more than $1.3 billion from 102,156 donors, and is ahead of schedule to reach the $2 billion goal. 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.

From student scholarships and philanthropic grants, to naming opportunities for buildings and facilities - there are countless ways to invest in the future of UC Davis. As part of the Expect Greater campaign, UC Davis Health is researching several Big Ideas that tackle some of the world's most difficult challenges, including Healthy Aging in a Digital World and the Center for Violence Prevention Research.

'We are grateful to our donors, whose partnership and generosity support everything from trailblazing research to life-changing educational experiences for our talented students,' said Allison Brashear, dean of the UC Davis School of Medicine. 'This tremendous support from our donors helps our medical school transform lives through innovative education, research, clinical care and community partnerships.'

'The outside investment in our mission is a testament to our interprofessional programs that complement nursing, collaborations with UC Davis and community partners, and the School of Nursing's commitment to go beyond clinical education. Our programs elevate the ability and vision of new types of health care leaders,' said Stephen Cavanagh, dean for the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis.

'While the COVID-19 pandemic and other current events have significantly impacted our community, they have also brought out the best of our unique UC Davis strengths in innovation and collaboration,' Chancellor Gary S. May said. 'I'm tremendously proud of the remarkable work that happens here every day - work that our philanthropic partners are central to advancing and elevating.'

To learn more about giving opportunities at UC Davis Health, visit health.ucdavis.edu/giving.