Dear FIU Family,
Even amid the uncertainty 2020 has brought us, the FIU community and those who serve it remain a beacon of hope and opportunity. Despite setbacks faced by university foundations nationwide during the pandemic, we are proud to announce that FIU exceeded its goal of $71 million for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, raising $75.85 million toward Next Horizon: The Campaign for FIU.
Our efforts and the dedication of our supporters bolstered student success and research excellence at FIU as well as FIUstrong emergency relief efforts for students and the South Florida community. As you read on, you will learn about the direct impact philanthropy is making at FIU: It is accelerating groundbreaking research, advancing students’ journeys to the commencement stage, and transforming the face of campus. Through FIUstrong, we raised $2.6 million to help Panthers affected by the pandemic meet some of their most basic needs and support local businesses in South Florida’s hard-hit hospitality industry.
We are humbled by your dedication to serving this institution and to fostering real opportunity, despite the challenges we have each faced this year. It is because of you, our supporters, who believe in the real impact of an FIU education and the real resilience of our Panthers, that we were able to defy odds and continue our progress to achieve our goals. It is because of you that we can continue to serve students during times of adversity, helping ensure that financial difficulties they may face do not interrupt their dreams of attaining a higher education. It is with your support that this university continues to advance in its endeavor to be ranked a top-50 public university, and why it had 44 programs ranked among the top 50 by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-2020.
It is because of you that our $750 million campaign reached $585.6 million, 78 percent toward our $750 million goal, by the close of the fiscal year.
FIU is Miami’s only public research university – we serve not just Panthers, but our community and beyond. Our successes as a Foundation this year demonstrate the bold, innovative, and resilient nature of this institution and the philanthropy that supports it. It demonstrates your belief in our mission and those we serve.
We are grateful for your partnership.
Sincerely,
Humberto "Burt" Cabañas '76
Chairperson, Board of Directors
FIU Foundation, Inc.
Howard R. Lipman
Chief Executive Officer
FIU Foundation, Inc.
