£24M in philanthropic funds raised in 2024 to support students and research

L-R: Dr Marie-Annick Gournet, Associate Professor in Lifelong Learning and Inclusive Pedagogy; Sado Jirde, Director of Black South West Network; Prof Foluke Adebisi, Professor of Law; and Alvin Birdi, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor (Education Innovation and Enhancement) at an event to explore how the city of Bristol can model the principles of PARC's Africa Charter

Prof Liz Coulthard, whose neuroscience research has been part-funded by philanthropic donations

The gifts, received during the 2023/24 financial year, have come from over 4,200 individual alumni donors, friends of the University, and charitable trust and foundations. Philanthropic giving from this visionary community of supporters underpins much of the University's strategy for 2030, making world-leading research, education and civic partnership possible.

Research areas and critical capital projects funded by major philanthropic giving this year include:

• Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus: grants from the Wolfson Foundation and the Bill Brown Charitable Trust are enabling the development of unique facilities and spaces at the University of Bristol's new campus, including the Research Hub, home to the Bristol Digital Futures Institute (BDFI) and MyWorld. This support builds on philanthropic funding received in 2022/23 from the Garfield Weston Foundation.

• Perivoli Africa Research Centre (PARC) : a new £1 million gift from the Perivoli Foundation will enable the expansion of PARC's work to create equitable research partnerships and deliver transformative cross-disciplinary research in Africa. This gift builds on the Perivoli Foundation's earlier transformative support to create PARC.

• Neuroscience and neurodegenerative disease : the ongoing support of alumnus Steve Scobie and Anne Graham for Bristol Neuroscience is enabling researchers to deepen our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's Disease and dementia, and paving the way for novel diagnostic tools and therapies. Additional generous gifts from the Burden Neurological Institute and alumnus Nigel will fund research into multiple sclerosis and the South West Dementia Brain Bank respectively.

• The Theatre Collection : renowned theatrical and creative company Forkbeard Fantasy gifted its remarkable multimedia archive, to the University of Bristol Theatre Collection, where the archive will now be catalogued, conserved, digitised and made available to scholars and practitioners, including creative residents funded as part of the company's philanthropic gift.

Alongside this visionary support for research and the University's capital programme, thousands of University of Bristol donors this year chose to support current students. Their generosity has enabled a record 462 students to receive a philanthropically-funded Futures, Black Bristol or Sanctuary Scholarships in 2024, whilst also funding programmes aimed at improving student mental health and wellbeing and alleviating financial hardship.

In her personal thank you to donors, published in the University's 2024 Impact Report , University of Bristol Vice-Chancellor, Professor Evelyn Welch said: "As a supporter of the University of Bristol, you help change the lives of Bristol students, facilitate outstanding research and volunteer your time and expertise to prepare our students for life beyond university. I am honoured to be leading this University and to have such a supportive and committed community of alumni and friends. Thank you for everything you do for Bristol. You play an enormous role in the University community."

Olivier, second-year studying a four year integrated master's in Civil Engineering - and recipient of a Sanctuary Scholarship which is philanthropically funded to support refugee students coming from a number of countries, said: "I am immensely grateful for the support and generosity of people who fund the Sanctuary Scholarship programme. I am eternally grateful for their commitment to providing education opportunities for people like me who have sought sanctuary in the UK, and for the kindness they have shown me.

"Ever since I was little, I've had this dream of going to university, becoming an engineer and doing all these amazing things."

Anne Graham, whose giving alongside alumnus Steve Scobie has supported neuroscience research into degenerative diseases over a number of years, said: " Dementia has affected our family and countless others across the country. It is a privilege to support this research at Bristol, and we are happy to know that we've played a small part in fighting this disease."

Read more about the impact of philanthropic giving to the University of Bristol in the 2024 Impact Report .