Forever (and Ever): A Bold Next Step

Forever UND: The Campaign for the University of North Dakota meets fundraising goal and sets sights higher.

What began as a bold vision, Forever UND: The Campaign for the University of North Dakota has already met its initial fundraising goal of $500 million, a remarkable achievement accomplished well ahead of its end-of-2026 deadline.

The news was revealed at a campus event dubbed Forever (and Ever): A Bold Next Step.

“This is a testament to the power of our collective vision, the dedication of our UND community, and the belief in the forever we can achieve together,” DeAnna Carlson Zink, CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, told the gathered crowd.

And there was more: rather than ending the campaign early, she revealed a new goal had been established. Emphasizing the University’s relentless pursuit of excellence, Carlson Zink declared, “Here’s the thing about the UND spirit: We build on our successes; we don’t stop at them. We don’t settle for ‘good enough.’ This is the year of momentum at UND, and we want to ride that wave of excellence, and push the boundaries of what’s possible."

With that, she unveiled the new goal: $625 million by the original campaign end date of December 31, 2026. “This isn’t just about a bigger number. It’s about a bigger impact,” Carlson Zink emphasized, outlining the strategic priorities for this enhanced fundraising effort.

These include:

• Expanding scholarship support by $60 million: Already, more than 575 scholarship endowments have been established during the campaign. The new goal includes a challenge to create an additional 1,200 annual scholarships by campaign’s end.
• Elevating faculty and research with an additional $20 million: UND recently attained R1 research status. Maintaining that status requires investing in groundbreaking research initiatives and attracting and retaining world-class faculty who drive innovation and discovery.
• Enhancing campus facilities: Another $35 million will ensure construction of the UND STEM Complex, which will benefit 40% of the UND student body.
• $10 million in additional support for programs: UND has already added nearly 100 new programs since the start of the campaign on July 1, 2018. Donors will continue to fuel initiatives that enrich the student experience and contribute to continued success in key areas.

UND President Andrew Armacost echoed the sentiments of gratitude and excitement, emphasizing the transformative power of the campaign and the collective impact of every contribution.

“This has been the Year of Momentum at UND, and I can’t think of a more fitting end to the school year than to share the news of the campaign’s success,” said Dr. Armacost. “To then say, ‘Let’s keep going!’ is a testament to the UND spirit. I’m excited to see what can be accomplished over the next 20 months.”