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Fiscal Year 2023 Update

The Grainger College of Engineering

Celebrating the impact of your generosity

Thanks to your philanthropic support, Grainger Engineers continue to change the trajectory of society through their curiosity, discovery and innovation. The generosity of our donors ensures that our students achieve their impossible and become trusted leaders in society, and faculty drive research that tackles the world’s most challenging and complex problems.

Solving problems is what Grainger Engineers do best, and it is only possible with continued support from our alumni, donors and corporate partners.

Every gift makes an impact at The Grainger College of Engineering. Your generosity allows us to remain leaders amongst our peers and propels our world-class engineering and computing programs, cutting-edge research and the development of inclusive leaders who will improve our world for the better.

On behalf of all the students and faculty who directly benefit from your philanthropic support, thank you.

I-L-L,

Rashid Bashir
Dean, The Grainger College of Engineering
Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering

FY 2023 By the Numbers

Thanks to your support during this past fiscal year, The Grainger College of Engineering continues to be transformed, resulting in:

52,448,149 Dollars Raised

302 First-Time Donors

Gifts from small to large 2,300 Gifts Between $1 and $100

Party 2,667,762 Unrestricted Dollars Raised

*Data as of 8/1/23.

FY 2023 Highlights

Your support has helped us continue to elevate the values that make Illinois distinctive: a sense of boundless aspiration, collaboration, and a global perspective.

Interior of a lecture hall with students.

Boomtown: New State-of-the-Art Facilities

Solving the world’s greatest challenges requires a significant investment in progressive infrastructure and equipment. Thanks to several generous capital gifts, doors are now open at five newly renovated facilities on the Engineering Quad. Our new state-of-the-art classrooms, cutting-edge laboratories and expansive community spaces foster experiential learning experiences, encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration and enable some of the world’s most innovative engineering and computing work.

Student smiling as she works at her desk in a classroom.

Engineering Visionary Scholarship Initiative

Philanthropic support helps ease the financial burden of attending college for many Grainger Engineers. Since July 2012, more than $100M has been raised for Engineering Visionary Scholarships (EVS), benefiting over 3,500 students. More than half of EVS gifts are under $100. Contributions are pooled and endowed, maximizing our flexibility to distribute ample scholarships more consistently. Awarded annually, these scholarships will last into perpetuity, allowing alumni and friends of the college to continue helping generations of Grainger Engineers for years to come.

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World-Changing Research

Grainger Engineers are world leaders in research and development, from alternative energy to quantum science and sustainability to health care. But we don’t do it alone. Donors help our educators, researchers and problem-solvers find solutions to our most challenging local, national and global issues every day. Support from our alumni and friends is vital to our ability to invest in our growing research enterprise, recruit and retain exceptional faculty, and outpace our competition in the technology we possess and invent.

Read more about our latest work in Limitless Magazine.

Students from ARISE smiling and posing playfully in their ARISE attire.

Transformative Student Experience

Grainger Engineers learn as much outside the classroom as they do inside through our student organizations and programs, all designed to provide students with opportunities to engage with others in a dedicated learning, leadership and service community.

Thanks to support from our donors, the National Science Foundation and Amazon Lab126, Academic Redshirt in Science and Engineering (ARISE) is one program providing academically talented students from low-income backgrounds enhanced support to help them earn their engineering degrees and prepare them for success after graduation.

Faculty member looks through magnifying glass while soldering.

Support for Faculty

The Grainger College of Engineering faculty are some of the world’s most sought-after educators and researchers. They ensure our students have a rigorous, transformative education and experience at UIUC. Endowing faculty scholars, professorships, chairs and department heads is critical to the college’s efforts to recruit and retain high-quality, distinguished faculty, including underrepresented minorities and women. Financial contributions offer competitive packages and support the teaching and research activities of the professorship.

Continue Your Support

Your continued support ensures The Grainger College of Engineering remains a place where progress and innovation can flourish. Find your passion and help us dream even bigger!

See Priorities

See More Impact

Philanthropy has benefited students, faculty, and staff in many ways. Browse the list below to learn more about how your impact can be felt across campus.