A male and female, dressed in blue robes, smile at their graduation from the University of Delaware.

Why Give

TO THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE

Alumni & Friends

UD’s extraordinary success is fueled by the power of collective giving. Every donor and every gift makes a profound impact on the University community.

Every year, thousands of alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff and students give back to UD.

They give to change the world. They give to propel UD forward. They give for reasons as vibrant and varied as UD's people and programs. Most importantly, they give because they believe in the University of Delaware.

Why will you give? Make your gift today.

Your Generosity, Their Success

Dedicated UD donors like you help transform lives and the world by empowering students, changing campus, inspiring faculty and building a lasting legacy at the University.

VIRTUAL ANATOMY

UD is one of only a handful of institutions to offer cutting-edge technology that allows students to take an in-depth, 3D look at human anatomical structures.

Affiliated Professor Isao Noda and Karl W. and Renate Böer Professor John Rabolt, both in UD’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, are the lead inventors on a new patent for making piezoelectric devices, such as sensors and actuators, using Nodax®, a biodegradable, bio-based polymer.

PIEZOELECTRIC FIBERS

A UD research team was awarded a U.S. patent to use an innovative polymer they invented to produce piezoelectric devices, such as sensors and actuators.

University of Delaware researchers in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources have made a new discovery in their work on wooden breast syndrome in chickens.

BROILER CHICKEN DISCOVERIES

UD researchers are investigating the anatomy of wooden breast syndrome in broiler chickens, which costs poultry farmers millions of dollars per year, to better understand the disease.

When submerged in flooded soils, many plants can’t breathe and are too stressed to grow, but rice can survive and even thrive.

DECODING RICE ROOTS

Doctoral student Frank Linam is studying how wet soil conditions in flooded rice paddies affect the way roots take in nutrients and filter out toxins.

University of Delaware’s Sambeeta “Sam” Das, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, is among more than 300 UD inventors working on solutions to challenging societal problems. Her UD-patented work includes microrobots that can be guided with a magnetic field to deliver medication to cells—or to destroy infectious cells, such as cancer—inside the body.

MICROBOT INNOVATION

Assistant Professor Sambeeta Das has been developing microbots that can be guided with a magnetic field to deliver medication to cells — or to destroy infectious cells — inside the body.

Autistic young adults face many barriers to employment and often struggle to reconcile their hopes and expectations for a future career during vocational planning.

VOCATIONAL EXPECTATIONS

Assistant Professor Sarah L. Curtiss recently published an article exploring the tensions between hopes and expectations in vocational planning for autistic young adults.

“We were really inspired by the vision of President Assanis and Dr. Kelvin Lee. They talked about how it takes some cancer patients months to get the treatment they need. In the new biopharmaceutical center, they will research how to bring much-needed medicines to market for patients much quicker, creating faster and better access to care and saving lives. This center will do so much for creating jobs, enhancing education in this field and advancing health care—the trifecta of elements that can make such a big difference for so many.”

- Marie E. Pinizzotto, M.D., BE08M

By the Numbers

From record-breaking, seven-figure gifts to thousands of two-figure gifts, every donor and every gift makes a profound impact on the University community.

Make a Gift

100

million dollars raised in support of UD

24,930

donors to UD

2,530

gifts of $1,000 or more

61.3%

increase in donors since 2016

gifts of $1,000,000 or more

566

new Delaware Diamonds Society donors

FY22

“I give to education because I believe in it. When students succeed, we all succeed. My gifts enable students to gain experience in the wider world—and bring visibility to the programs that my colleagues, staff, students and alumni work hard to develop.”

- Greg Shelnutt, Chair, UD Department of Art & Design

Support your UD Passion

Your gift of any amount, to any of our 100+ funds, makes a profound difference for the University and its students.

HenFunder

Join fellow Blue Hens in supporting a cause close to your heart through HenFunder, the University’s crowdfunding platform. UD students, alumni, faculty and staff use this unique platform to raise funds for initiatives and programs that will significantly impact members of the University community.

Support a UD Cause >

Blue Hen Strong Fund

Gifts to the Blue Hen Strong Fund will directly and immediately address the urgent needs of our UD students to ensure their success at UD and beyond – providing success grants to cover tuition, access to technology and advancements to online learning tools, career readiness support and so much more.

Blue Hen Strong Fund >

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Fund

The JEDI Fund will help provide programs, resources and opportunities to cultivate educated and empowered individuals who not only understand societal challenges related to equity and social justice, but have the tools to create solutions to address them.

SUPPORT THE JEDI FUND >

Explore more areas where you can make an impact.

Philanthropy is Everywhere: youtube.com/watch?v=FunQvDxHiVs

Philanthropy is Everywhere

Azhir Jones, a UD sophomore majoring in entrepreneurship, is here to set the record straight on what philanthropy really means at UD.

Learn More

83 E. Main Street, 3rd Floor, Newark, DE 19716 alumni-friends@udel.edu 302-831-2104

Why Give

TO THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE

UD’s extraordinary success is fueled by the power of collective giving. Every donor and every gift makes a profound impact on the University community.

Every year, thousands of alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff and students give back to UD.

They give to change the world. They give to propel UD forward. They give for reasons as vibrant and varied as UD's people and programs. Most importantly, they give because they believe in the University of Delaware.

Why will you give? Make your gift today.

Your Generosity, Their Success

Dedicated UD donors like you help transform lives and the world by empowering students, changing campus, inspiring faculty and building a lasting legacy at the University.

- Marie E. Pinizzotto, M.D., BE08M

By the Numbers

From record-breaking, seven-figure gifts to thousands of two-figure gifts, every donor and every gift makes a profound impact on the University community.

“I give to education because I believe in it. When students succeed, we all succeed. My gifts enable students to gain experience in the wider world—and bring visibility to the programs that my colleagues, staff, students and alumni work hard to develop.”

- Greg Shelnutt, Chair, UD Department of Art & Design

Support your UD Passion

Your gift of any amount, to any of our 100+ funds, makes a profound difference for the University and its students.

HenFunder

Blue Hen Strong Fund

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Fund

Explore more areas where you can make an impact.

Philanthropy is Everywhere

Azhir Jones, a UD sophomore majoring in entrepreneurship, is here to set the record straight on what philanthropy really means at UD.

Learn More

Alumni & Friends News and Events

Learn More