2024 Report to Donors
Can you feel it? That sense of urgency growing every day?
We see it in researchers seeking solutions to complex problems, in students craving knowledge and training and in communities looking for partnership and innovation.
These stories show how your generosity fuels their quest to make change—of the transformative power of your giving.
We can’t wait for change. Together, we are creating it now.
Together, 5,604 donors gave $44.9 million
to endowment
funds invested for years to cometo capital
improve buildings and assetsto annual
funds can be spent right away
Global travel sparks passion for conservation
Haley Hood's insatiable curiosity has taken her from the coral reefs of Australia to the volcanic terrains of Chile. Thanks to donor support, she was able to jump on new research opportunities and start to unravel the secrets that a newly-discovered microorganism may hold for sustainability and the future of our planet.
Curiosity and compassion lead to healthcare innovation
Dennis Natembeya’s desire to help his community led him to a career in nursing. At UVic, he developed innovative technology to fill gaps in healthcare—and found a way to impact even more lives.
A taste of university for Indigenous high-school students
Each summer, UVic’s classrooms, dorms and outdoor spaces host Indigenous high-school students from all over British Columbia and the Northwest Territories for Mini-U. During one week of academic, creative, cultural and social activities participants have an immersive opportunity to see what university is all about.
Thanks to the generous support of two donors, all participants' expenses are covered, including travel, accommodation, meals, activities and staffing, removing barriers to taking part.
Donors supporting students
in donor-funded awards, supporting 3,444 students
UVic students received a donor-funded award
The importance of soil
Soil is a precious substance that is basically responsible for all life on Earth. But the United Nations recently reported that we only have 60 harvests left until there's nothing left to plant into. Brooke Hayes, a PhD student in the School of Environmental Studies and lead researcher at the EcoSoil lab, is on a mission to understand the importance of soil and how we might change our farming practices to ensure it sticks around. Her graduate research and the EcoSoil lab are both supported by UVic donors.
"I would say the work I'm doing is inherently helpful. It is a really incredible thing to wake up every day and know that what I'm doing is tackling so many problems at once."—Brooke Hayes
Modelling the way to net zero
There are multiple pathways to achieving Canada’s commitment of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The race is on, and every policy decision made today will determine how and if we reach that target. An injection of $2.5 million in funding from the Clean Prosperity Foundation is helping Dr. Madeleine McPherson and her team shed light on the quickest, most effective solutions by expanding and accelerating energy-modelling work at the University of Victoria.
Training climate leaders
UVic’s new Coastal Climate Solutions Leaders program is the first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary graduate training program in Canada. It aims to prepare the next generation of leaders with the knowledge, experience and skills to rise to the challenge of climate change. PhD student Mohaddese Ghadiri was the 2023 recipient of the donor-funded Coastal Climate Solutions Leaders Graduate Scholarship.
“I am so thrilled to be part of the Coastal Climate Solution Leaders program. It gives me a chance to learn how to address wicked problems and climate issues in an interdisciplinary environment.”—Mohaddese Ghadiri, public administration
UVic donors
donors in 2023/24
alumni donors
employee donors
gave for the first time
A holistic approach to supporting Indigenous student success
Growing up, Ryder Hagemeister had very little connection to his Indigenous roots, but he was eager to explore that part of his heritage. After receiving several donor-funded entrance awards, Ryder said “I can’t describe the feeling of empowerment in saying ‘Yes, I’m ready to go to UVic! I can go to the university that I want to go to!’ And that feeling of empowerment has really stuck with me.”
The transition from high school to university is rarely easy, but Ryder has benefitted from UVic's holistic approach to supporting Indigenous student success, of which donor funding is a critical piece.
Digital resources for mental health
With funding from a graduate award for innovation, PhD student Cindy Quan created an online space where people find understanding, guidance and a way forward.
“I never thought of myself as having an entrepreneurial or innovative side... It's given me more possibilities than I thought about before.” – Cindy Quan on the impact of receiving the Whelen Family Innovation Fund award.
Reaching beyond boundaries
Donors are helping remove barriers to climbing at CARSA so that people of all abilities can experience the potential for personal growth and social benefits of this challenging activity. “With this support, we can adapt our equipment and our approach. My end vision is that anyone on any day can come in this gym and climb.” —Clinton Thomas, Climbing program coordinator
Tackling student need, together
Through Stocktober and Giving Tuesday many donors support the UVSS Food Bank. In the past three years, more than 400 donors have given over $100,000, which has funded upwards of 3,800 hampers, and counting.
International student Caro Martinez used to donate food to local charities in her hometown. “I never thought I would be in a position to need it," she says. "I know I always will have somewhere to come for support and to find something to eat and I know I'll never go hungry, thanks to the UVSS Food Bank."—Caro Martinez, biomedical engineering
Giving across the university
to student awards
to research
to programs
to libraries
to other university needs
Numbers calculated for fiscal year: April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024
Thank you
ʔəy̓ nəwəl ʔist | ÍY,NEUELIST or ‘moving forward together for the good of all’ is one of the central principles guiding our work at UVic. To create lasting impacts for future generations, we need to envision, innovate and act in partnership with others. This report celebrates the role philanthropy plays in helping us address urgent local and global issues, in health, climate, reconciliation and access to education. I'm so grateful for your partnership and support. It’s never been so valued, or so necessary. Thank you.
Learn more about giving to UVic.