The University of Auckland has raised $380,271,165 in a huge three-year fundraising effort.
Photo: Claudine van Massenhove
More than 23,000 separate donations were made by over 7000 donors from across the world.
The fundraiser, called The Campaign for All Our Futures, started in 2016 to bring in money for research, innovation, and student support.
The campaign closed at the end of October with a final donation of $220 to the Student Emergency and Wellbeing Fund, given by an Australian alumni.
In the single largest ever donation to the university, the Hugh Green Foundation gave $16.5 million for the Hugh Green Biobank, part of the Centre for Brain Research (CBR).
The CBR is is one of only a few institutions around the world able to grow human brain cells.
Nearly all the donations were given for a specific purpose - many were for medical research, and donor-funded student scholarships.
"Every dollar we have raised will create a new opportunity for our students and staff to achieve something they would not otherwise have been able to do," Vice-Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon said.
"We had a huge team working on it. I mean, there's a whole lot of things about a successful fundraising campaign.
"But essentially, we worked with our donors and supporters to explain to them what the university was doing, what it needed to do more in areas of excellent teaching and research, what it needed to do more to support students, particularly those from disadvantaged communities, and our donors literally came to the party and have been extraordinarily generous.
"And as you say, 24,000 gifts from 7000 donors and the guests ranged from $10 to the $16.5 million ... so of course, we're delighted with the outcome of six years of hard work and the generosity of our donors.
"We're very clear with the donors, every cent that they give to us, every cent of interest that that money generates is used for the intended purpose and none of it goes to the basic running of the university."
He said New Zealand universities needed to build relationships with donors so they could "reap the benefits" of philanthropy.
"That's the great thing about philanthropy."
University of Auckland Chancellor Scott St John said the money would provide great value in funding research to confront some of the world's greatest challenges.
We are in the middle of a technological revolution, climate change, and an expanding and aging population," he said.
"Health and wellness issues are affecting the way and the length of time we live, while the needs of people must be balanced with the impact on the environment and the planet.
"By generating new knowledge and providing the highest levels of formal education, research-led universities have a unique role to play in helping meet these challenges and creating a positive future both in New Zealand and internationally."
Professor McCutcheon confirmed none of the donations would go towards running costs for the university.
