Thanks to the generosity of 17,901 donors, the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation raised a record $171.7 million in philanthropic support during fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) – once again surpassing its annual fundraising goal and marking the fifth consecutive year of raising more than $100 million in support of the University of Hawaiʻi’s 10 campuses.
This extraordinary show of support comes at a pivotal time since the Foundation launched the public phase of For UH • For Hawaiʻi, the most ambitious fundraising campaign in state history. The $1 billion campaign is focused on transforming lives, and ensuring that current and future students, faculty and researchers across Hawaiʻi have the resources they need to thrive.
Among this year’s many impactful gifts, the Gilbert and Aileen Chuck Charitable Trust built on its 2024 $2M gift with an additional $1M that will support nursing students attending UH Maui College’s School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, and two alumni, John D’Amato and Kristina Inn, established a $1 million endowment to honor UH Mānoa anthropology professors Jacob “Jack” Bilmes and Alice Dewey.
“These gifts represent hope, opportunity and the strength of community,” said Tim Dolan, UH vice president of advancement and CEO of the UH Foundation. “By supporting our mission, donors are shaping Hawai‘i’s future, investing in research that really matters to our community, training the leaders and entrepreneurs our state needs, and helping build our diverse workforce. We are deeply thankful.”
Among the 21,788 gifts received this year were heartfelt contributions made in honor of loved ones, including faculty members and their spouses. Many alumni and community members also stepped forward with significant support for scholarships, faculty, research, facilities and student programs.
“These results reflect the deep trust our donors place in UH to improve the quality of life in Hawai‘i through higher education – both today and for generations to come,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “Every gift has an impact, whether it helps a student thrive, strengthens our faculty or fuels world-class research that tackles Hawai‘i’s and the world’s most pressing challenges.”
The total included nearly $27.7 million for student scholarships, approximately $40.1 million for faculty and academic support and research, and more than $800,000 raised during the university’s Giving Tuesday last spring, representing a 36% increase over last year’s gift amount of $593,000.
FOR UH • FOR HAWAIʻI, The Campaign for the University of Hawaiʻi, is focused on raising $1 billion to support UH priorities on all 10 campuses across the state, including student success; research that matters; kuleana to Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi; sustainability, resilience and conservation; innovation and entrepreneurship; building Hawaiʻi’s workforce; and engaging our community. Learn more at uhfoundation.org/4UH4HI
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The University of Hawai‘i Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawai‘i System. The mission of the University of Hawai‘i Foundation is to unite donors’ passions with the University of Hawai‘i’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawai‘i and our future generations. uhfoundation.org
