ORONO — University of Maine Foundation President and CEO Jeff Mills announced today that over $95 million was raised in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 for the benefit of the University of Maine, the largest annual total in UMaine fundraising history.
This represents a 120 percent increase over the previous year’s record of $43 million raised. Before the Office of University Development merged with the Foundation in 2016, UMaine fundraising averaged $19 million per year. The 2024 total represents a 400 percent increase.
“We are incredibly grateful for the continuing support of our donors,” said Mills. ”Thanks to their remarkable generosity and leadership, the University of Maine’s future is brighter. This philanthropy will help jumpstart much-needed campus projects and provide the margin of excellence opportunities that make students’ college experiences life-changing.”
“This unprecedented fundraising achievement demonstrates confidence and excitement about the university’s direction and successes and reflects the deep external commitment and loyalty that shapes the University of Maine’s future, impacting students, faculty and the broader community,” said University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. “We thank all donors for their generosity.”
Among many generous contributions, notable bequests from alumni Norm Stetson ’62; Parker Denaco ’65, ’75G; and Suzanne K. Hart ’68, have significantly bolstered engineering scholarships, various excellence funds and the University of Maine Alumni Association. An anonymous alumni donor also made an extraordinary gift of over $15 million to endow two faculty chair positions that will enhance the Maine College of Engineering and Computing and Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Additionally, a gifted collection of gemstones and jewelry valued at over $1.2 million will be unveiled by the School of Earth and Climate Sciences this academic year. Giving highlights for the University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation included two significant gifts totaling over $2.7 million to recruit and support students and improve UMaine research infrastructure.
Over 90 new endowment funds established this year have provided scholarships, excellence funds, leadership support and travel funds for UMaine students. Alumni and current and former UMaine faculty and staff created many of these funds.
The university also received a $27 million payment through a previously announced grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation to support the UMaine Athletics Master Plan as part of UMS TRANSFORMS, a historic investment by HAF in Maine’s public universities. The $170 million grant to UMaine athletics honors Harold Alfond’s legacy of support for student-athletes and represents one of the largest single philanthropic contributions to a Division I program in the country.
Realized gift annuities contributed over $300,000 to support various campus initiatives. The year’s pledges totaled over $12 million, highlighted by a $7 million pledge for the New Balance Track & Field and Soccer Complex. A $1.26 million pledge will benefit aquaculture research and another $362,000 pledge will support the Sam Martinez Hazing Prevention Fund. Over $1.2 million in bequest expectancies have been documented for the year, ensuring sustained support for the university’s future endeavors. UMaine also received over $4.9 million in grants from non-government entities to further its research capabilities and innovation.
The Foundation raised over $4 million through its 90th Anniversary Matching Gift Program, made possible by a generous gift of $1 million to support scholarships from the Judith and Robert Blake Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. Robert E. Blake was a member of the Class of 1962.
Just over $508,000 was raised from friends and alumni through over 5,500 gifts of $499 or less. Many of those gifts were received as a result of Annual Fund and Maine Day of Giving donors.
The University of Maine Foundation is dedicated to supporting the University of Maine by securing and managing private gifts to enhance the University’s mission of teaching, research, and public service. Through the generosity of alumni and friends, the Foundation strives to ensure the continued growth and success of the university.
As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe — from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an environment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts.
