Brilliant Futures: The Campaign for the University of Illinois

In July 2003, the University of Illinois began its Brilliant Futures Campaign, which was publicly announced on June 1, 2007. The primary goal of this Campaign is to secure the reputation of the University of Illinois as the nation’s top public university.

How will we reach our goal?

By seeking financial support from private sources totaling $2.25 billion—a figure only a few of the nation’s top universities have ever attempted. In fact, a secondary goal of the Brilliant Futures Campaign is to ensure that the University of Illinois ranks consistently among the top 10 public universities in private funding.

In FY 2007, new gifts, pledges and deferred gift commitments totaled $367 million. Of this amount, individuals contributed 68%. We’re meeting our goal of building greater engagement with our constituents as part of the Campaign.

With your support of the Brilliant Futures Campaign, the University of Illinois will lead the nation’s public universities in:

  • Obtaining private support to fund critical priorities for advancing the University and campuses toward our renewed visions of excellence
  • Increasing our endowment for faculty, student and program support
  • Broadening our donor base
  • Strengthening the involvement of our student, alumni and friends

The growing need for private funding

The University of Illinois faces many challenges in today’s economic climate. Despite declining state funding, we must find a way to continue our tradition of excellence in teaching, research and scholarship.

What does this mean? Current state aid meets only about 20% of our total budget. The remaining 80% must come from tuition, fees, grants—and private giving. That’s why we’re reaching out to our alumni and friends, asking them to invest in the University of Illinois.


How your help makes a difference

When you support the University with your financial gifts, you help us:

  • Meet the evolving educational needs of diverse students in a dynamic, nurturing environment
  • Give our faculty the resources they need to provide an outstanding education while supporting their own ongoing research and scholarship

Even if you’re already contributing to the University, your additional Campaign pledge will be used for special projects and programs. Since annual gifts count toward the Campaign total, we encourage you to make a special pledge to the Campaign and to continue your annual giving.


Campaign priorities

The University of Illinois Foundation, individual college deans, department heads and University leadership worked together to identify the University’s needs and goals. After evaluating the merit of each proposed priority, five areas of focus for the Brilliant Futures Campaign emerged:

  • Faculty Support

    At the center of every great college is a talented faculty. We’re dedicated to bringing the top researchers and professors to the University of Illinois through competitive salaries, endowed chairs and professorships.

  • Student support

    We believe every gifted student deserves a quality education. Scholarships and other gifts to the University allow us to keep tuition affordable.

  • Programs support

    We support competitive programs and facilities that attract the attention and involvement of international leaders in our University community.

  • Annual giving

    Annual gifts enable University leaders to meet challenges and take advantage of opportunities that arise throughout the year. Annual gifts also provide a reliable stream of support for academic and student programs.

  • Endowment support

    Endowments provide funding for faculty, student and program support, as well as scholarships, fellowships, professorships and chairs. Our goal for the Campaign is to increase the University’s endowment to more than $1 billion.


Private donations: a time-honored tradition

From the practical to the sentimental, each of our alumni and friends has a personal reason for supporting the University of Illinois with his/her gift, including:

  • Honoring a loved one or colleague
  • Supporting the educational community
  • Securing his/her financial future through a planned giving process
  • Supporting a cause such as medical research or library preservation
  • Preserving a family tradition