UNT Welcome Center

For the third consecutive year, the University of North Texas achieved record-breaking fundraising efforts, setting a new all-time high of $30 million for a single gift and bringing in a total of $61 million for fiscal year 2019.

“We are extremely grateful for our UNT family’s faithful support of our students and our university, and I’m proud of what our University Advancement team was able to achieve this past year,” UNT President Neal Smatresk said. “In the last year alone, UNT has gained momentum in nearly every area – from boosting enrollment to more than 39,000 students and graduating more than 9,600 students to increasing research expenditures and increasing student retention.

“The fundraising achievement comes at a critical time because it means we are able to better support our student and faculty research and scholarly endeavors while empowering our students to achieve their dreams. It truly is an incredible time for UNT.”

Highlights of the 2018-19 fiscal year:

• Overall commitments grew to $61 million
• UNT received a $30 million commitment — the largest gift in university history — from alumnus G. Brint Ryan (’88, ’88 M.S.) and his wife, Amanda, to create the G. Brint Ryan College of Business
• New gifts to endowments rose 38.4% to $21.8 million and increased the value of the UNT endowment to a record high of $215 million
• Legacy giving is at a three-year high, with more than $8.5 million in new commitments
• The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of North Texas (OLLI at UNT) received a $1 million grant for an endowment and a $50,000 bridge grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation
• Foundation partnerships that support students, programming and faculty research are up 10% to more than $6.2 million

The growth in giving was driven by increased engagement with UNT alumni and friends. This fiscal year:

• The UNT Alumni Association set another membership record of 15,301, connecting with alumni across the state through improved regional programming and chapters
• The Diamond Eagles Giving Society funded its second annual project, “Students of Need: Suit Up, Fuel Up, Cap Up,” a Division of Student Affairs initiative that promotes student success and career readiness
• Student callers working with the Call Mean Green Phonathon increased commitments 79%

“It’s been amazing to witness the growing culture of giving at UNT,” said David Wolf (’04 Ph.D.), vice president for university advancement. “Our dedicated donors are leaving a lasting mark on every corner of the university. There has never been a better time to be part of the UNT family.”