From the Nominator

"The campaign for the Colleges and University of Cambridge, “Dear World ... Yours, Cambridge,” is one of the largest higher education campaigns in European history and one of very few outside North America to have raised more than $2 billion. 

The campaign launched publicly in October 2015 with a target of £2 billion and closed in July 2022, having raised £2.2 billion from more than 130,000 donors globally. Seeking philanthropic support for Cambridge’s research, teaching, and transformational capital projects; fundraising priorities included improving the early detection of cancer, student support, and advancing public policy to improve lives everywhere. 

Its impact is remarkable: £356 million was raised for student support, contributing to 4,316 scholarships, bursaries, and studentships. Philanthropy towards programs like the Stormzy Scholarships and Get In Cambridge enhanced Cambridge’s drive to diversify the undergraduate student body. Cambridge more than doubled its intake of Black British students during the campaign. 

Over 160 buildings and facilities received philanthropic support, including the Ray Dolby Centre, which will be one of the most advanced sites for physics research in Europe. Four hundred new posts were created or endowed, and over 12,000 volunteers were engaged globally. 

The campaign has successfully embedded new fundraising models and practices across Cambridge and enhanced collaboration across college and university advancement teams. Further, it expanded the horizons of what philanthropy can achieve in support of the university’s mission to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence."

From the Judges

Congratulations to Cambridge and their overall success. Significant growth in their alumni engagement should set them well for future campaigns. The campaign tagline fit Cambridge's ethos. Exciting to see the success of this campaign.