University raises over $200 million

The University of Auckland has raised $202.9 million as a result of one of New Zealand’s most ambitious and successful philanthropic fundraising campaigns.

The “Leading the Way Campaign” was launched in 2006 to raise funds to support outstanding research and teaching that would make a major contribution to the wellbeing of people in New Zealand and throughout the world.

“Our aim was to attract support for people – scholarships, fellowships and funded staff positions – and for research, rather than for buildings, and that is precisely the activities that have been supported,” Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon told donors and supporters at a black tie dinner tonight to mark the Campaign’s conclusion.

Of funds raised, about $40 million will be invested in endowments, while the balance will support specific projects particularly in the faculties of Medical & Health Sciences and Business, but with significant gifts also made to activities in most of the other faculties and large scale research institutes.

“The generosity of donors has created in the University and our community a greater understanding of the power of philanthropy,” said the Vice-Chancellor. “It has built stronger linkages between the University and the many communities it serves. And it has laid the platform for the creation of a genuinely world class university in New Zealand.”

The Campaign focused on five key themes: the health of our nation; the development of our children; the growth of our economy; the future of our cities; and the expression of who we are – themes which engaged in all faculties and institutes across the University.

A group of 23 leaders from the community and business, both local and expatriate New Zealanders, formed the Campaign Leadership Committee with Geoff Ricketts, a well-known company director, as Chair. Patrons were Jenny Gibbs, well-known arts and education philanthropist; Chris Liddell, former CFO of General Motors: and Sir John Graham, who was Chancellor of the University for five years.

By 2010, the original target of $100 million for the “Leading the Way Campaign” had been reached, and it was then revised to $150 million. Since then more than 3,000 donors, including the Goodfellow and Plowman families, Owen G. Glenn and Charles Bidwill as well as philanthropic organisations such as the Auckland Medical Research Foundation, the Cancer Society, the Heart Foundation, the Neurological Society and the ASB Community Trust have taken the total over the $200m mark.

“As a result of this collective generosity, the Campaign proved even more successful than we true believers imagined, said Campaign Chair, Geoff Ricketts.

“The response has enabled the University not just to begin to fulfil elements of its ambitious vision but to expand it to explore what comes next,” said Chancellor, Roger France.