UND Alumni Association Sets Fundraising Record in 2025

Donations totaled nearly $120 million, a new high for the university's alumni group.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 4:39pm

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The University of North Dakota Alumni Association announced that it raised a record $119.95 million in donations during the 2025 fiscal year. This included $34.2 million for facilities, $32.4 million for student support, $29.6 million for faculty and programs, and $23.7 million for priority needs. The association saw a 54% increase in first-time donors over the previous year, with nearly 2,800 new donors contributing to the record-breaking total.

Why it matters

The record-breaking fundraising haul will provide critical support for the university's facilities, students, faculty, and other priority areas. As public funding for higher education continues to decline, private donations have become increasingly important for universities to maintain and enhance their programs and infrastructure.

The details

The University of North Dakota Alumni Association raised $119.95 million in donations during the 2025 fiscal year, shattering the previous fundraising record. This included $34.2 million for facilities, $32.4 million for student support, $29.6 million for faculty and programs, and $23.7 million for priority needs. The association saw a 54% increase in first-time donors over the previous year, with nearly 2,800 new donors contributing to the record-breaking total.

  • The 2025 fiscal year ran from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

The players

DeAnna Carlson Zink

CEO of the University of North Dakota Alumni Association.

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What they’re saying

“I am absolutely thrilled, humbled, and overjoyed to announce that in the calendar year 2025, our alumni and friends have not just broken our previous fundraising record, they have shattered it. This is historic. This is transformational. This is legacy.”

— DeAnna Carlson Zink, CEO

The takeaway

The record-breaking fundraising by the University of North Dakota Alumni Association demonstrates the continued importance of private donations in supporting higher education institutions, especially as public funding sources face ongoing challenges. This achievement will enable the university to enhance its facilities, support its students and faculty, and invest in other priority areas that will benefit the institution and its community.