Major Gifts and New Initiatives Anchor Successful Year

University Advancement recently completed one of the top fundraising years in the University of Denver’s history. A number of significant gifts and a broad range of fundraising activities contributed to the year’s strong finish. Fiscal year 2010 saw DU close the largest gift of the current fundraising campaign, which is the second largest gift in the University’s history. That gift and others employed a number of strategies that are increasingly attractive to donors during times of heightened economic strain. In addition, University Advancement renewed its focus on several internal programs, recognizing the wide range of gifts and efforts that are crucial in a successful fundraising campaign.

The most notable gift of the year was from Betty Knoebel, widow of food-services executive Ferdinand “Fritz” Knoebel, who committed $17.5 million to the University. The largest gift of the current campaign and the second largest in DU’s history, it will establish the Knoebel Center for the Study of Aging as well as name the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management in the Daniels College of Business. Knoebel used a number of giving techniques in making her gift to DU, including a sizeable gift of property and a future cash commitment. 

Also of note was the success of the School of Art and Art History campaign, which raised more than $15 million to create outstanding new environments for teaching and learning in the arts, including the creation of the Nagel Art Studios and the rejuvenation of the Shwayder Art Building. The campaign also provided a tremendous amount of resources for undergraduate and graduate scholarships, experiential learning for students and enhanced community engagement partnerships.

The dedication of the University of Denver Soccer Stadium and CIBER Field marks DU’s increased capability for hosting soccer tournaments and recruiting outstanding student-athletes. Major donors to the project included Jack and Leslie Hanks and Mac and Maria Slingerlend. The Pat Bowlen Training Center also was dedicated recently, providing DU student-athletes with one of the premier training facilities in Division I athletics. The generosity of Pat and Annabel Bowlen, Robert Selig Jr. and Gary Satin made the training center possible.

Among several new programs started this year in support of the campaign, University Advancement reconstituted its Annual Programs staff, which will provide an increased focus on soliciting a greater range of donors through various methods. They will conduct face-to-face visits with Front Range alumni, donors and friends; revitalize the University’s direct-mail programmatic components; and outsource the telefund program to increase contacts across the country. All of those efforts will support the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund and University priority projects.