Generous donors help us hit our fundraising target early

COVID has disrupted many things this year, but it hasn’t stopped donors from giving generously to UNSW – and to a broad range of projects.

Thanks to a collective effort led by the Chancellor, UNSW’s Foundation Board, and the Development Team working in collaboration with colleagues across campus, the University has surpassed its $42 million annual target with $43.6 million raised. Since the inaugural fundraising campaign began in 2015, we have secured $371 million in donations, well on our way to our goal of $650 million.

One notable recent gift is a $1 million pledge from the Sir William Tyree Foundation to establish the Sir William Tyree Postgraduate Award in Nuclear Engineering, supporting a cohort of Tyree Scholars at Masters and PhD levels and providing a talent pipeline for the emerging nuclear industry in Australia. The Tyree family has a longstanding relationship with our University, including the establishment of a Chair of Electrical Engineering, the Tyree Energy Technologies Building, and the Tyree Foundation Institute of Health Engineering (IHealthE).

This success is testament to UNSW’s collaborative culture, according to Fiona Docherty, Vice President – External Engagement.

“This is an achievement that we can all be proud of. The partnership between the Development Team and our University colleagues spans the creation of proposals, hosting events, receipting gifts and stewarding donors – all of which are fundamental in attracting philanthropic funds,” she said.

Lindsay Robinson, UNSW’s new Chief Development Officer added:

“It’s a truly terrific achievement from Development. I am incredibly proud of my team’s efforts particularly with the challenges faced by lockdown,” she said. “Successful fundraising involves much behind-the-scenes support and coordination. For anyone who has shared their time and expertise to champion a fundraising cause, thank you. I am excited to see where our ongoing collaboration can take us in 2022.”