'Making the Exceptional Happen' has raised £30 million so far

Fundraising Campaign hits £30 million

The University of Exeter’s largest ever philanthropy Campaign, ‘Making the Exceptional Happen’, has reached the halfway point in its fundraising target with three years still to go.

As the new academic year began, the fundraising total hit £30 million, a celebratory milestone that far exceeds any previous Campaign at Exeter.

Launched publicly in February 2017, ‘Making the Exceptional Happen’ aims to raise £60 million and secure 60,000 volunteering hours by 2020.

Funds raised through the Campaign are supporting Exeter’s researchers to seek solutions to global problems such as climate change, dementia, food security and political instability. For example, our Diamond Jubilee Scholarship programme has funded 17 PhD studentships across the University, at a value of more than £1.2 million.

Fundraising is also helping to support students from all backgrounds to come to Exeter. 

Alumnus Tony Allen (Physics, 1965) has supported a number of Devonshire-based students since 2010 through his Widening Participation Scholarship. He said: "I highly value my own time at the University and I am keen that others can have a similar experience, enabling them to mature into well rounded individuals while making lifetime friends, and opening the door to all sorts of opportunities for the future, whatever their background. It is good to feel that this is helping give these young people a chance to achieve their potential and I plan to continue doing so where I can for the foreseeable future."

Exeter alumnus and Chair of the University Campaign Board, Gerry Brown (Economics and Economic History, 1966) said: “I’m delighted to have reached this Campaign milestone. Our community of alumni and supporters has really got behind our vision and is helping us to deliver real impact through innovative research at the University.

“It has been great to see the commitment of everyone involved and I am looking forward to continuing the rest of the Campaign with the same energy and momentum.”

Director of Global Advancement at the University of Exeter, Dr Shaun Curtis said: “It is a great achievement to reach the halfway mark with three years still to go. Fundraising on this scale is transformative for our University.

“There is still much hard work to be done over the rest of the Campaign, but it’s fantastic to have made such a strong start. Thank you to everyone who has donated their time and money”

More information about the ‘Making the Exceptional Happen’ Campaign, including our key themes and how to get involved is available via the dedicated website: www.exeter.ac.uk/exceptional

Date: 19 September 2017