Campaign sets new target

Believe – the Campaign for the University of Melbourne has passed its target two years ahead of schedule, thanks to the generosity of more than 20,000 donors worldwide.

The Campaign, launched publicly in 2013, aimed to raise $500 million by the end of 2017. Having achieved that, a new goal of raising $1 billion and engaging 100,000 alumni by 2021 has been set.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis AC says the University has been overwhelmed by the generosity of its donors.

“Our intent with the Campaign has always been to change the lives of future generations. Thanks to our incredible alumni and donors, the impact has been nothing short of transformative,” he says.

“We’ve been able to provide more than $150 million to educate tomorrow’s leaders, $120 million towards enriching our communities, on top of the more than $230 million raised for ground-breaking research in areas including melanoma and skin cancers, childhood mental health and human rights law.”

The major gifts the University has received include $10 million to establish the Wade Institute for Entrepreneurship, $26 million for the Michael Buxton Centre of Contemporary Art and donations that will create 24 new professorships across the University.

Professor Davis says the University’s alumni and donor community has been essential to the Campaign’s success.

Campaign Chair Mr Allan Myers AC QC (BA 1969, LLB(Hons) 1970, LLD 2012, Newman College) says: “As a graduate of this University, I believe that those who benefited from a Melbourne education have the power to create a legacy for future generations.

“The Campaign has achieved so much in developing new research programs and making a difference to the lives of thousands of students.”

Learn more: campaign.unimelb.edu.au