Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW Surpasses Historic Milestone

The largest and most ambitious campaign in UNC Wilmington history, Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW, surpassed its $125 million stretch goal after hitting its initial $100 million target in September 2022. 

UNCW has raised more than $128 million to date from more than 35,000 donors, including nearly 72,000 gifts from alumni, since the campaign launched in 2015. Gifts of all sizes have made their mark, as more than 86% have been less than $250. Campaign totals include annual gifts, employer matching opportunities, estate gifts, student-led crowdfunding projects and transformational major gifts.  

“We all know that Seahawks soar higher together,” Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Eddie Stuart said. “This historic moment would not have been possible without tens of thousands of generous alumni, friends, parents, faculty, staff, students, corporations and foundations who have invested in our mission.” 

Enhancing opportunities for UNCW’s students, faculty and staff and investing in facilities, services and programs have been central to Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW. These efforts are providing impact locally and globally, positioning Seahawks for future success and deepening the university’s family feel.   

The campaign will continue to build upon its momentum through next month’s Homecoming and April’s Seahawks Give and officially conclude at the end of the academic year. 

“I want to express my immense gratitude to all who have donated in support of our mission to transform lives,” Chancellor Aswani K. Volety said. “The Seahawk community’s generosity will empower UNCW to soar even higher in the future. While this campaign has been a university-wide effort, I want to acknowledge the Division for University Advancement, led by Vice Chancellor Stuart, for choreographing its success through challenges like hurricanes and a pandemic. Their commitment and service to UNCW reflects the Seahawk spirit that permeates our campus and community.” 

Philanthropy through the campaign has helped transform UNCW during the last nine years and will further support priorities outlined in the university’s new 10-year strategic plan for years to come.  

Future focused, UNCW is now more equipped than ever to meet the rapidly changing workforce demands and global economy, thanks to recent gifts that pushed the campaign over the stretch goal. The impact of these contributions includes: addressing the shortage of healthcare workers in the community, ensuring continuity and maintenance of special collections through endowing the Director of the Center for Southeast North Carolina Archives and History, delivering undergraduate research support with enhanced faculty mentoring, providing sports medicine services for student-athletes, supporting scholarships for first-generation students and graduate students in Biology & Marine Biology with an interest in aquaculture, and many more. 

To learn more about Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW and ways to contribute, visit giving.uncw.edu.