UA Nets $261M In Gifts To Cap Off Historic Fundraising Year

TUSCALOOSA, AL —The University of Alabama on Thursday announced that its capital campaign, The Rising Tide 2.0, has become the most successful in higher education history in Alabama after reporting $261 million during the last fundraising year.

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UA says the campaign has garnered support from over 172,000 donors, including 91,500 first-time contributors. This year surpassed the $226 million mark set in 2023 by 15% and has helped boost The Rising Tide 2.0 capital campaign past 90% of its $1.8 billion goal.

To date, the funds have gone toward the creation of more than 1,050 new endowed scholarships and 65 new endowed faculty funds, while also supporting the construction of over 500,000 square feet of campus facilities.

“University of Alabama donors continue to outdo themselves,” Bob Pierce, vice president for advancement at UA, said. “When we finished the last two fiscal years right at $226 million, both record years, we could not have envisioned that we would eclipse that mark by 15% in the eighth year of the campaign. It is just remarkable and is further evidence of the dedication and commitment of UA alumni and donors. The passion for the Capstone is tremendous, and this level of philanthropic investment year after year proves that our constituents believe in the University and want to see it continue to rise in prominence and prestige.”

As the campaign enters its final two years, Pierce said its impact is evident across campus, enhancing the UA experience and contributing to record enrollment figures.

Recent developments include the groundbreaking of the Smith Family Center for the Performing Arts and the unveiling of the Catherine and Pettus Randall Welcome Center at the Peter Bryce Campus.

The Beat Week online crowdfunding competition against the University of Georgia also saw UA emerge victorious with 21,562 gifts, surpassing Georgia's 17,390 on its way to raising $2.6 million for the university.

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