For the ninth time in the past 16 years, a national organization that supports educational advancement efforts has honored the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for its fund-raising success.
That total is a distinction shared by only one other university: Stanford.
UNC received a 2008 CASE-WealthEngine Award for Educational Fundraising in the category of “Overall Performance.” CASE stands for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, which works with educational institutions to enhance their alumni-relations, communications and development efforts.
The University claimed this year’s Overall Performance distinction while still celebrating the success of the Carolina First Campaign, the comprehensive, multi-year campaign to support Carolina’s vision of becoming the nation’s leading public university. The drive, completed on Dec. 31, 2007, raised $2.38 billion for UNC, exceeding its goal of $2 billion.
“We’re thrilled to receive this honor,” said Matt Kupec, UNC’s vice chancellor for University Advancement. “It’s another testament to all the hard work that our development staff, volunteers, faculty and administrators put into the Carolina First Campaign. In turn, the campaign’s success was a testament to how much our donors believe in UNC’s mission and future.”
In 2008, 973 higher education institutions were eligible to be considered for a CASE award. An independent data analyst narrowed the field to 427 institutions. Out of 427 colleges and universities considered, 67 higher education institutions won an award (37 in Overall Performance and 30 in Overall Improvement).
CASE and its predecessor organizations have recognized exceptional development programs each year since 1959. The awards are based on the analysis of a panel of peer institution judges who evaluate three years of fund-raising data supplied by each school. Institutions do not apply for the awards. Judging is blind and completely data-driven.
Development Communications contact: Scott Ragland, (919) 962-0027 or (919) 638-0467, scott_ragland@unc.edu