The University of Northern Iowa announced on Apr. 18 that it achieved a record-breaking day of giving during its Live Purple Give Gold event, with 2,174 donors participating and exceeding the goal set to honor the university’s founding year and sesquicentennial celebration. The campaign raised $794,948 for 139 funds supporting various aspects of life at UNI.
Ryan Randall, director of annual giving, said, “The number of people stepping up to support UNI continues to be something to be proud of. The Panther family has once again shown their commitment and generosity in supporting this great university.”
Nearly 1,000 alumni contributed gifts during the event. Additionally, there were contributions from 169 students and more than 300 faculty and staff members. Alumni from the class of 2025 made the highest number of gifts among alumni groups with a total of 32.
The university highlighted that this show of support demonstrates how philanthropy can positively impact student success at UNI. The Live Purple Give Gold event is part of a larger effort as UNI moves into the final months of its Our Tomorrow campaign.
So far, more than 30,000 donors have given over $320 million through Our Tomorrow: The Campaign for UNI to enhance student access and success, foster engaged learning opportunities, and provide additional resources for faculty, staff, academic programs and campus facilities. The campaign will continue through June 30, 2026.
