• The University of Florida (UF) announced on Friday that it raised $4.5 billion through its ‘Go Greater’ campaign 
• Launched eight years ago, the campaign initially estimated to bring in $3 billion 
• The total is one of the largest ever raised by a public higher education institute 
• Raised funds have already been used to establish new faculty positions, provide new scholarships to students, and facility improvements

The University of Florida (UF) brought in $4.5 million through its ‘Go Greater’ fundraising campaign, far surpassing the original expectation of $3 billion. According to the university, the total is the fifth-highest sum ever brought in by a public higher education institution.

The ‘Go Greater’ initiative garnered nearly 1 million unique donations, while UF’s annual alumni giving rate — a major factor when calculating overall rankings — climbed to 20 percent, one of the highest in academia.

Funds raised during the campaign support scholarships and student programs, professors and groundbreaking research, life-improving initiatives, and campus infrastructure.

Through the donations, UF was able to directly establish 200 new endowed faculty positions, added 600 scholarships, and created 15 new teaching and learning centers.

“Years from now when people look back on this chapter in UF’s story, a highlight will be the Gator Nation’s extraordinary generosity and far-sightedness,” UF President Kent Fuchs said. “Alumni and friends from around the world came together like never before to support discoveries and innovations that will change the world, and to ensure that those educated on our campus will be the leaders of tomorrow.”

U.S News World Report, the preeminent publication for academically ranking America’s colleges and universities, factors alumni contribution in its annual rankings. When ‘Go Greater’ was launched in 2014, UF was the 14th-ranked public university in the nation.

Due in part to the efforts undergone in fundraising outreach, UF has risen to the fifth spot nationally, establishing itself among the top public school nationwide. The eight-year-long program received more than 620,000 alumni donations, collecting approximately $700 million in the last 12 months.

“Make no mistake, lives and communities everywhere are improved because of the work done at the University of Florida. Much of that work is only possible because of the caring people who support our university’s bold mission,” said Anita Zucker, chair of the UF Foundation’s executive board. “It’s because of their generosity — so amazingly illustrated through this year’s record-breaking giving — that we know our university will forever be a beacon of hope for people around the world.”

Notable donations include an investment of $300 million for UF’s College of Engineering to launch a $300 million initiative working towards engineering education and research, $85 million for football facility renovations, and 27,000 acres of land in Osceola County to serve as a ‘living classroom.’