Spider ambassadors, matching challenges, and friendly competition on donor leaderboards helped this year’s UR Here campaign add up to a resounding success. 

“I’m overwhelmed,” said Kim Lebar, director of Annual Giving. “We set high expectations for this year’s campaign, and the Spider community blew them away.”

The campaign, which ran from April 3 to 4, raised more than $2.2 million, an all-time record. The previous record was $1.6 million, raised in 2020, 2022, and 2023. Additionally, more donors than ever before — 4,350 — supported the University with a gift. This is an increase of 33% from last year.

Donors represented 15 countries, all 50 U.S. states, and Washington D.C.

Gifts from current students grew by an impressive 63%. Increases were also seen in donations from alumni, parents, faculty and staff, and first-time donors.

“This reaffirms my belief that our Spider community is tremendously generous, its members care deeply about our current students and the University’s future, and they have a lot of Spider Pride,” Lebar said.

Spider Athletics raised over $1 million for the campaign, the largest amount ever.

“The results from this year’s giving day are further evidence of the special bond between Richmond Athletics and our network of fans, friends, family, and alumni,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics John P. Hardt. “Together, we’re working to make the Spider student-athlete experience the best in collegiate athletics, and our success on giving day is a tremendous boost to this effort.”

Donors marked their location on a map and posted pictures and videos to social media to promote the UR Here theme. Ninety-three alumni, faculty, staff, and parents signed up to be official UR Here Ambassadors to help spread the word.

The campus community also contributed at a Grateful UR Here event at the Forum on April 4, the women’s lacrosse game versus James Madison, 18 regional alumni events, and a presidential reception in New York City.

“Each year our community becomes more familiar with UR Here, and more people want to be part of something that brings us all together to support our students,” she said. “I also think people are responding to Richmond’s exciting momentum and trajectory.”

The gifts will go toward impact areas including academic excellence, access and affordability, athletics, and student experience and community. Donors could give to the 2024 UR Annual Fund (greatest needs) or to specific schools, teams, or other areas.

The School for Professional and Continuing Studies won the unit leaderboard competition, with more than 305 donors.

The new Steve Bisese Scholarship was established in honor of Bisese’s upcoming retirement and 29 years of service to the University. More than 100 donors contributed nearly $150,000 during giving day to honor UR’s vice president for student development since 2006.

“We invest heavily in the people, programs, and facilities needed to ensure excellent outcomes for our graduates, faculty, and athletic teams,” Lebar said. “We are fortunate to work from a strong foundation built by generations of Spiders, but we must continue to grow our fundraising to meet today’s needs and prepare for the future.”

This year’s campaign certainly met that challenge.

“I am so grateful to all who took part in this extraordinary campaign,” she said.