October 10, 2023

UCLA donors made a difference for students, faculty and the community in 2022–23

UCLA received $692 million in new gifts and pledges in the fiscal year ending June 30, representing the largest annual tally of philanthropic support since the close of the Centennial Campaign.

Donors from all 50 U.S. states and 60 additional countries contributed more than 70,000 gifts, 94% of which were less than $10,000. Gifts of $1 million or more numbered 101, and of those, 19 totaled $5 million or more. Alumni accounted for 50% of individual donors.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block expressed gratitude to all who gave.

“Throughout my tenure, I have been gratified to see how our mission as a public university inspires donors to contribute gifts of all sizes,” Block said. “Their support of our outstanding teaching, world-class research, top-quality health care, excellence in athletics and dynamic campus culture allows us to better serve Los Angeles, California and the world.”

Making higher education more affordable

UCLA attracts talented students from every economic background, and philanthropy significantly benefits those with financial need.

Donors contributed more than $80.5 million toward student support in 2023–23, $71 million of which provided direct financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students. Especially notable was the launch of the UCLA Affordability Initiative to create new scholarships that reduce or eliminate the need for undergraduates to take on student loans. Alumnus Peter Merlone contributed a $15 million lead gift to the effort.