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Record year for UCT fundraisers, despite downturn
5 March 2012
Following a record-setting fundraising year in 2010, donations to UCT soared a further 27.8% in 2011 to set a new one-year fundraising record of R 226.7 million.
Vice-chancellor Dr Max Price announced the 2011 totals in early January 2012, noting, "This achievement reflects very well on the excellent work being done by the university's academic leadership, work which has drawn such strong tangible support from so many foundations, corporations, and individuals. But it is also a tribute to the efforts of our alumni leaders around the world who do so much to help spread the good news about UCT and who work to grow its reputation."
Development and Alumni Department executive director Dr Jim McNamara underscored Price's sentiments, noting that UCT's success had come at a time when fundraising efforts were still under great pressures in many parts of the broader university and non-profits sectors.
"While the global economy and the philanthropic environment have recovered somewhat from the lows of 2008, funders are still cautious about returning to their pre-2008 levels of support."
McNamara also pointed to a "virtuous cycle" in terms of global university rankings and donations to UCT.
"The rankings, whatever their inherent shortcomings, are certainly noticed by foundations and other funders. They prefer to back successful institutions, and that has helped the donations flow to UCT as the institution has moved higher in the rankings. In turn, such donation increases allow our academics to carry out yet more innovative and important work, which then has a further positive effect on the rankings in subsequent years."
The 2011 donations total is some 43% over that of 2009, a rare achievement in the current economic climate.
"Surpassing R200 million in one year was a pleasing milestone for us," added McNamara. "UCT alumni can feel justly proud of their university as it continues to grow from strength to strength in 2012."