Public campaign announcement of UCA Now: Impact Arkansas and Beyond. Event participants celebrated by tossing commemorative coins into the Harding Centennial Fountain.

MISSION

The University of Central Arkansas is known for providing truly exceptional educational experiences for its students, for being innovative and for being a force for good across the state and region. Established in 1981, the UCA Foundation, Inc. is a private corporation nonprofit whose mission is to provide financial support that builds on this proud tradition. Fundraising efforts focus on purposeful engagement with donors to provide privately funded scholarships, experiential learning opportunities and program and faculty support.

A gift to the UCA Foundation supports its comprehensive capital campaign, UCA Now: Impact Arkansas & Beyond, and will transform the university and communities for generations to come – one student at a time. The UCA Now campaign is the largest in the university’s history with a goal of raising $100 million for students, faculty and program support. Go to uca.edu/now to learn more.

Students raise signs indicating their academic and career goals during the campaign kickoff event.

FUNDRAISERS AND EVENTS

• UCA’s eighth annual Day of Giving, March 10, 2022, is the university’s spirited 24-hour fundraising event to rally the university community and connect donors with programs and giving opportunities they are most passionate about. Day of Giving supports student scholarships, state-of-the-art equipment, student and faculty research and experiential learning opportunities.

• UCA’s Laurels & Stripes Gala puts the fun in fundraising as alumni and friends gather for an unforgettable evening of honoring outstanding alumni, music, dancing and fundraising in support of privately-funded scholarships. Laurels & Stripes 2022 will be Saturday, April 9, at the UCA HPER Center.

The new Integrated Health Sciences Building will enable students from multiple health care disciplines to be trained side-by-side and will allow us to graduate more nurses and other health care professionals.

The cutting-edge Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts will wow audiences, help grow the creative economy and produce graduates who are creative problem-solvers.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

• Success: Create an endowment that generates real, lasting impact for student scholarships, faculty enhancements, research funds and experiential learning.

• Culture: Usher in social, cultural and economic opportunities through support of the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

• Wellness: Support health care education and wellness in Arkansas through your support of the new Integrated Health Sciences Building.

• Excellence: Fund student and community success by supporting exceptional programs like the educational cyber range, Honors College, and student-athletics.

OUR IMPACT

887
The UCA Foundation awarded 887 private scholarships in 2020-21, an 8.7% increase from the previous year.

$16.1 million
More than $16.1 million in private scholarships have been awarded since the foundation’s inception.

$3.1 million
Since its beginning in 2015, UCA’s combined annual Day of Giving efforts have raised more than $3.1 million in impact for students and programs, establishing the university as a leader in the state for Day of Giving efforts.

80,000 SF
The new 80,000-square-foot Integrated Health Sciences Building includes an interprofessional teaching center – the first of its kind in our region.

90%
More than 90% of our health care graduates stay in Arkansas to work after graduation.

450 seats
The 450-seat Concert Hall, located in the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, will be the only one-room, open-concept venue in the central Arkansas area.

1st
The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is home to the only enterprise-class cyber range in Arkansas.

FUNDING SOURCES

Individuals: 69%
Corporations, Foundations, Organizations: 31%

Center for Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy
2490 Bruce St.
Conway, AR 72035
501.450.5288 | uca.edu/now

Established: 1981
Employees: 32
Service Area: Arkansas and surrounding region



VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT, PRESIDENT OF UCA FOUNDATION:
Dr. Mary Bane Lackie

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Jeff Standridge, Chair
Brad Hegeman, Vice Chair
Luke Pruett, Secretary
Garland Dunn, Treasurer
Dr. Houston Davis, UCA President
Elizabeth “Liz” Blankenship
Dr. Renee’ Crater, DPT
Dr. Spencer P. Gordy, DDS
Lindsay Henderson
Sara Hendricks Batcheller
Bret Carroll
Drew Gainor
Ann Kinder
Kenny Kinley
Lori Melton
Michael Murry
Lori Ross
Drew May
Bradley Mullins, Esq.
Dexter Pearson
Susan Richards

Rush and Linda Harding, 2021 UCA Now Campaign Co-Chairs