The fundraising numbers are in, and the University of Houston-Victoria received a record amount of almost $2 million in 2017-2018 contributions, as well as all-time-high contribution rates in several categories.
The 2018 fiscal year saw a total of $1,995,108 in private contributions to the university through a variety of sources, including grants from foundations, business and corporation contributions, employee giving, alumni donations, community member donors and a gift of land in support of UHV Athletics. The total number of unique donors was a new record of 1,127 across all donor categories.
“It was an outstanding year for fundraising,” said Jesse Pisors, UHV vice president for advancement and external relations. “The previous year was just over $1.1 million, so coming so close to $2 million was not even on our radar. It is encouraging to receive so much support from so many different areas of our community.”
The record-breaking total was especially exciting because the university launched the public phase of its UHV Here, We Go campaign in November, and all contributions to the university were included in the campaign total, Pisors said. The campaign goal is to reach $12 million in contributions by the end of 2020, and the university has now raised more than $9 million.
The university saw many areas of fundraising increase and break records. UHV experienced an increase in alumni donors and set a new record for the fifth year in a row. In 2017-2018, 590 alumni gave back to their alma mater. Among the alumni donors were UHV graduating students who participated in the Jaguar Spirit Cord program. The program involves students donating an amount equal to their graduating year – such as $20.18 for 2018 graduates – to receive a special cord to wear during commencement. In addition, 390 non-alumni individuals gave to UHV. This is the first time the university has had more than 300 individual donors in the non-alumni category, Pisors said.
Another successful area of individual giving came from UHV’s employees. Every year, the university holds its One For All, All For One employee giving campaign. During 2017-2018, 203 employees gave to the university. This is the third year in a row that UHV set a new record in employee giving participation.
In addition to individual donors, a record 147 organizational donors, including foundations, corporations, businesses and other institutions gave to UHV. Among the organizational donations were three large donations from the American Red Cross, Communities Foundation of Texas and The Rebuild Texas Fund, all to the UHV Relief Fund, created to help UHV students recover from Hurricane Harvey.
“Hurricane Harvey was a big part of UHV’s fundraising story this past year,” Pisors said. “So many people and organizations came together to offer their support for the university and our students. It’s incredible to experience that level of support from our community, especially knowing that so many community members had to struggle through their own recovery.”
One very special donation was a gift of 65 acres near Victoria Regional Airport in support of UHV Athletics for a future athletics complex, Pisors said. The donation, made by the Bennett-Wood family, was the largest single gift ever made in support of UHV Athletics and the second-largest gift in UHV history.
“UHV is fortunate to be part of such a welcoming, involved community,” UHV President Bob Glenn said. “The level of giving in 2017-2018 is a testament to how much the community, our alumni and our own employees value the university, and we are grateful for their many demonstrations of support.”
To learn more about how to donate to UHV, contact the UHV University Advancement Office at 361-570-4812 or email Pisors at pisorsj@uhv.edu.