LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska Foundation announced $532.8 million in private donations, a first for the foundation, during the fiscal year that ended June 30. 

The first for the foundation comes as the university is asking the state for more money to address a budget shortfall. NU President Jeffrey Gold said it reflects the increasing confidence of those who see the “power” of the university, but he emphasized the university’s “critical partnership” with the state, as it is the university’s largest funding source. 

The donations will go to all campuses. The funding was for specific university purposes — such as renovation of the Lied Center for Performing Arts — so it can’t be used to fill funding gaps from the state. 

Of the donations:

• $243.2 million will go to UNL. Among the projects supported, the press release said, was a $15.9 million project to renovate the second floor of Morrill Hall. Nebraska Athletics will receive $18.3 million for the Huskers Student-Athlete Experience Fund. 
• The University of Nebraska at Omaha will receive $108 million. 
• Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture will get $928,098 for a Student Success and Activity Center.  
• The University of Nebraska at Kearney will receive $11.5 million, some of which will support the UNK Endowed Fund for Rural Health Initiatives. 

This story was published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Read the original article: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/the-university-of-nebraska-foundation-receives-over-500-million-in-private-donations/