Donations create renewal and edge

Agneta Stålhandske is Head of Development Office, a division of the University Administration which coordinates the University’s work on philanthropic support. On 7 October, the University will launch a jubilee campaign to celebrate the 550th anniversary of the oldest university in the Nordic region in 2027.

“A jubilee is something fun and enjoyable. Many people want to give a gift on someone’s birthday, but more importantly, the anniversary sets a clear end date for the campaign. It lights a bit of a fire under our work, but also helps motivate the external friends of the University who support us in our work, such as the members of our campaign committee,” notes Stålhandske.

Discussions without expectations

She and her colleagues often meet people who want to contribute to the University’s activities in various ways. To provide them with a comprehensive picture of the University’s strengths, they have produced the publication “Boundless knowledge”. However, discussions with the donors tend to be completely free of expectations, she emphasises.

“Often, when they contact us, they already have an idea of a cause they want to support. We then hold discussions on that area, in which we are supported by one or more researchers who are specialists in the field concerned. Of course, the purpose supported must be relevant to the University. There have also been occasions when, after consultation with the academic leadership, we have declined a donation. After all, it is the Vice-Chancellor or vice-rectors who will ultimately sign the deed of gift, and there is a collegial process behind their decision.”

Building a relationship and establishing trust

The person responsible for the planning of the upcoming 550th anniversary is Professor Johan Tysk, Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor on External Relations, who works closely with the Development Office as part of his role. Having a senior academic representative at meetings with external stakeholders is essential, according to Stålhandske.

“It is a matter of building a relationship between the University and the donor and creating mutual trust. And although many of our external stakeholders have studied at a university, that does not mean they understand how a university works.”

Campaign committee a success factor

A further key success factor in the University’s fundraising is the campaign committee. This includes people with leading roles in the public or private sector and who themselves have a large network.

“They are incredibly important, as they serve as our door openers. The fact that other people speak well of us is crucial for generating interest in the University in the wider world and thus also for the success of the campaign,” notes Johan Tysk.

In 2024 alone, more than a dozen significant donations have been made to the University for research on hydrogen in shipping, a new Latin professorship, and much more. There is enormous breadth and all disciplinary domains are represented. And more donations are on the way.

What role do donations play today in terms of what the University can achieve?

“In purely financial terms, we can say that with an annual turnover of SEK 8 billion, the campaign’s target of SEK 1 billion is just the ‘icing on the cake’. But it is still important money, as it enables research that might otherwise never have happened,” replies Stålhandske.

However, she emphasises that donations also mean more than just money.

“They are also about building new long-term relationships with new stakeholders and increasing the University's visibility both in Sweden and internationally. In this way, the University is strengthened in the long term while new contacts and collaborations are established.”

Strengthening contact with alumni

The Development Office also coordinates the University's alumni activities with the aim of broadening and strengthening contacts with them.

“Of course, my division’s performance is largely measured by how much money we help to attract to the University. And many of our donors are also alumni. However, alumni engagement means much more than that. They are our most important ambassadors for spreading the word about Uppsala University across the globe,” notes Stålhandske.

Annica Hulth