Sondra Lomax
Executive Director and Assistant Dean for Development
As we move into the new academic year with less threat from COVID-19, the College of Fine Arts continues to raise the bar on excellence in 21st century arts education. To make this possible, we have increased momentum in our fundraising operation with a boost from the public launch of the UT-wide “What Starts Here” capital campaign in March 2022 and with important help from members of our Advisory Council.
For academic year 2021-2022, the College of Fine Arts received over $44.8 million in gifts and pledges. This accomplishment is the result of dedicated efforts by Advisory Council members, chairs and directors, development staff, alumni, and friends. To each of you, I extend my heartfelt thanks on behalf of the College of Fine Arts and its students.
Most of this $44.8 million is restricted, meaning that funds are designated to specific endowments or purposes. Some are planned gifts that will provide us with transformational funding in the future. But all of these gifts share a common bond: they help the college in its pursuit of excellence so that we can continue to provide the best arts education and creative research opportunities for our students.
Last year’s success was a milestone, heralding the second-largest fundraising total in the history of the college. The largest fundraising year was over $55 million in 2008 with the generous naming gift for the music school by Ernest and Sarah Butler.
This year’s fundraising is off to a great start: Since September 1, 2022, the college has raised over $14.9 million! Our goal for this fiscal year is $15 million, and we are well on our way to exceeding that goal. With your help, we will make it another banner year!
One of our top fundraising priorities remains student support across the college, whether it be undergraduate scholarships, graduate student fellowships, or internship funds. Our goal is to make COFA financially accessible for the brightest students in Texas and beyond, so that our students can enjoy the best educational opportunities available and graduate with the least amount of student loan debt.
Texas Challenge Scholarships, which offer dollar-to-dollar matches from the university, are a smart investment, as you can double the value and impact of your gift while supporting the neediest students. Texas Challenge Scholarships are still available to fund at the $100,000 minimum until the end of this calendar year. Beginning in January 2023, the minimum investment rises to $125,000. My thanks to all the Parents Council and Advisory Council members who have created Texas Challenge Scholarships to benefit low-income students. We can still use more!
Another important matching funds opportunity will support Landmarks, the university’s public art program. For those of you who attended the Doty Awards last year, you heard about the Still Water Foundation challenge match. If Landmarks can raise $2 million in endowment funds by December 31, 2022, the foundation will invest an additional $2 million for the Landmarks endowment.
Endowment investments can support student internships, art conservation, publications, educational outreach, and general operations. We have raised over $1.35 million towards the $2 million challenge goal, and we are striving to complete the remaining $650,000 before the December 31st deadline. If you have been considering a contribution to Landmarks, now is the time! Your gift of any size can help us to unlock this $2 million opportunity from the Still Water Foundation. Thank you for your support!
As we continue to build and sustain COFA, we are moving aggressively with our fundraising initiatives across the college. Each gift to the College has the potential to help transform lives, whether it enables a student to view great works of art, study with renowned musicians, or create a role in a theatrical production. And please remember, every gift counts, no matter the size!
To achieve our goals, our hope is that each and every Advisory Council member will find a project with which to become involved, and that you will work with the dean and me, and with our chairs, directors, faculty and staff, to keep the College of Fine Arts at the forefront of arts programs nationally. With your help, we will succeed!
In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me, or members of my staff, if we can assist with questions or projects. And once again, thank you for your support of the College of Fine Arts!
College of Fine Arts Development Report
Fiscal Year 2021-2022
| Total Raised for COFA: | $44,898,385 |
| Student Support: | $20,508,439 |
| Faculty Support: | $161,096 |
| Program Support: | $21,487,749 |
| Facilities Support: | $2,741,101 |
New Endowments Created: 11
COFA’s Endowment Totals = $214 Million
| Number of Endowments: | 508 |
| Student Support: | 330 |
| Faculty Support: | 80 |
| Program Support: | 98 |
“What Starts Here” Capital Campaign Progress (2016 to present): $143.5 Million
2022-2023 Year-to-Date Fundraising Total: $14.9 Million
