From the Nominator

This special event held on April 19, 2024 celebrated the success of "Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW," the university’s third and most ambitious comprehensive campaign which took place from July 1, 2015 to June, 30, 2024. We invited donors who gave more than $25,000 during the campaign to a VIP reception, followed by an all-campus outdoor celebration for donors with $5,000 to $24,999 in campaign giving, alumni who had given less than $5,000 but were loyal every year of the campaign, and board members. A strategic goal was to recognize key leaders in giving while also celebrating the power of participation as 86% of all campaign gifts were less than $250. We wanted to illustrate not just the successes but also the challenges faced during our nine-year campaign through authentic and interactive storytelling. Most importantly, we wanted guests to understand how their investments have changed lives and positioned University of North Carolina Wilmington for the future. The final campaign total was $136 million with a $5 million increase in support after this event. Nearly one year after this event and the successful conclusion of the campaign, the university is realizing its best fiscal year ever with $22.3 million raised as of Jan. 31, 2025. These metrics demonstrate that attendees left feeling confident and proud of their collective involvement and inspired to do more. A board of trustee member remarked that it "felt like a family reunion," indicating we achieved our goal. This event was the most spectacular in UNCW’s 78-year history, celebrating our campaign's success and the university's unique qualities.

From the Judges

The judging panel agreed, this event was a nice way to celebrate the end of a fundraising campaign by inviting all donors with a special event for principal donors.