50 Years of the Arts and Sciences Foundation
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It all started with….
1975
“I remember sitting in a small conference room in South Building, with the radiator heat stifling me, listening to Sam Williamson and Frank Hanes talk about their dreams. They and the rest of us batted around ideas, and as we did, enthusiasm soared!” – Pepper Dowd ’53
In the fall of 1975, Samuel R. Williamson Jr., Pepper Dowd ’53 and Frank B. Hanes Sr. ’42 met to consider the idea for a foundation to raise funds for the College of Arts and Sciences. The schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, business administration, law and journalism had already established organizations to raise private support, but the College—the University’s oldest and largest academic unit—had not taken that step.
The Articles of Incorporation of the Arts and Sciences Foundation were signed on December 3, 1975.
“…it is recognized that the Arts and Sciences departments of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are the bedrock of the entire University.” -William F. Little ’52
1980
In 1983, the College comprised 28 academic departments, two military science departments, 12 organized interdisciplinary curricula and eight public service or research institutes.
The Arts and Sciences Foundation’s first capital campaign, Foundations for Excellence, launched in 1984.
Foundation Board members learn how computers could be used in the College. “Microcomputers” were a fundraising priority for the College in 1983.
1990
Celebrating the Foundation’s 20th birthday and the University’s 200th anniversary, the Foundation raised $53 million in the Bicentennial Campaign, exceeding its $50 million goal.
1990
In 1999, the most popular majors in the College were biology, psychology, communication studies, political science and English.
During the University-wide Carolina First campaign (1999-2007), the Foundation helped the College raise more than $387 million for its top priorities, including faculty recruitment and retention, teaching and research facilities and student support.
“I look forward to helping a new generation fulfill the contract implicit in our mission to provide Carolina students with a liberal arts education second to none.” – Dean Stephen S. Birdsall (1992-1997) speaking in 1992 about “The Dean’s Club,” the precursor to today’s Dean’s Circle.
2000
In 2006, the Arts and Sciences Fund, the Dean’s unrestricted fund, surpassed $1 million in annual gifts for the first time.
In 2016, the Arts and Sciences Foundation dedicated Buchan House as its new home. Named for R. Duke Buchan III ’85 and his family in honor of their generosity to the College, the historical building is the former home of the Chapel Hill Public Library and was designed by Don Stewart (M.A. regional planning ’59).
The Foundation raised $764 million for the College in the Campaign for Carolina, 2017-2022, exceeding the ambitious $750 million goal.
2025
Over 50 years, the Foundation has grown to manage nearly $500 million in endowments and millions more in expendable funds. With an additional $844 million in endowed funds managed by the UNC-Chapel Hill Endowment and the UNC-Chapel Hill Foundation, the generosity of College alumni and friends over the past 50 years has helped propel the progress of so many amazing Tar Heel accomplishments.
It all started with a vision to strengthen the College through philanthropy and one gift of $1,000 from Margaret Harper in 1975…imagine the next 50 years!