Impact of Giving

Sharing our supporters' stories is an important way to acknowledge their generosity. We celebrate the impact of every gift, big and small.

Our donors are inspirational. Although every donor has a personal reason for giving, the outcome of each gift is the same – transformation. Helping disadvantaged students access scholarships, contributing to the growth of our library collections, funding cutting-edge research- every part of the University is impacted by philanthropy.

Explore our most recent Impact of Giving report to see how recent donations have fuelled innovation, equity and education.

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If these stories inspire you, as they inspire us, we invite you to make a gift today.

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Impact of Giving report

Christopher Smith, Augustus Short Scholarship recipient

The Impact of Giving report demonstrates the impact that research and education can have in our communities, creating opportunities for countless students and researchers to follow dreams, push boundaries and build a brighter tomorrow. Read powerful stories of impact, from life-changing heart research undertaken by Professor Prash Sanders to innovative cancer research at the South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI), the Decie Denholm Music Award and the refurbishment of our iconic Elder Hall for the next generation of world-class musicians.

Featured

Heritage scholarship with a fascinating legacy

More than 50 years ago, Ella Syme Everard (nee Russell) bequeathed her estate of approximately $260,000 (the equivalent of approximately $3.2 million AUD today) to the University of Adelaide to establish scholarships in the memory of her late husband, Charles John Everard.

Read more about Heritage scholarship with a fascinating legacy

Classic Scholarship Success

Shona Edwards was on track to complete her undergraduate studies in 2018 when she was diagnosed with papillary meningioma – a tumour at the base of her spine. 

Read more about Classic Scholarship Success

Children's University Adelaide

Thanks to a recent partnership with Farina Restoration Group, three new remote schools joined the Children’s University Australasia and Africa (IO) program in term three 2022.

Read more about Children's University Adelaide

Revolutionising fertility treatment

Any couple trying to conceive through IVF will tell you it is a tiring, stressful and costly journey. Thankfully, researchers at The University of Adelaide, in partnership with medical technology company Fertilis, have developed a ground-breaking new micro-device which will revolutionise 

Read more about Revolutionising fertility treatment

Something to smile about

Karen first discovered the University of Adelaide’s Community Outreach Dental Program in 2012 when she was a tenant at the Light Square Common Ground community housing complex. She and her young son were among the first patients of the service after Karen’s social worker recommended the newly launched program.

Read more about Something to smile about

The love of music

The love of music was instilled in Ruth Schuetz (Diploma of Arts and Education, 1950) as a child, a connection that endured throughout her life. In 2020 at the age of 95, Ruth passed away leaving a gift in her Will to the Elder Lunchtime concert series.

Read more about The love of music

Kulpi Minupa scholarships support medicine students to go rural

Medical student Tarran Dunn, along with six other peers, travelled 300 kilometres north of Adelaide to Port Augusta this winter for a pilot eight-week clinical placement program, Kulpi Minupa, working with local Aboriginal communities.

Read more about Kulpi Minupa scholarships support medicine students to go rural

New scholarship to support agriculture and animal care

The Trustees for the Commonwealth Hill Trust are laying the foundation for tomorrow’s agriculturalists and veterinarians, with an undergraduate scholarship for students who are passionate about agricultural science, animal behaviour, veterinary bioscience and veterinary technology.

Read more about New scholarship to support agriculture and animal care

Joining forces to fight type 1 diabetes

Thanks to philanthropic funding from JDRF and the Helmsley Charitable Trust, experts at the Robinson Research Institute have been collaborating with research institutions across the country to uncover environmental factors that contribute to type 1 diabetes.

Read more about Joining forces to fight type 1 diabetes

Possingham Family Legacy

A new postgraduate top-up scholarship in environmental sustainability will honour Barbara and Max Possingham and promote vital research.

Read more about Possingham Family Legacy
  • Our donor charter

    We are grateful for the remarkable support from all of our donors, and we are committed to building a relationship of mutual trust and respect. It's important to us that we make clear our commitment to you, our donors. We commit to:

    • Acknowledging every donation

    All of our donors will receive an official University of Adelaide receipt, and appropriate acknowledgement, recognition and publicity.

    •  Using gifts in accordance with the intentions of the donor

    We will ensure that all gifts are administered consistently with the letter and spirit of the law and are used in accordance with the donors’ intentions. Undesignated donations will be used to support the University’s highest priorities.

    • Respecting the privacy of donors

    We will respect the privacy of our donors, and will provide anonymity for donors who request it. Donor information will be used by the University to maintain contact with donors and keep donors up-to-date with information about the University, its services, events and achievements. Donors’ names may be published in the annual Impact of Giving report.

    • Being transparent and informative

    Representatives of the University will at all times identify themselves as such when they contact current or potential donors. Once a donation has been made, the University will provide benefactors with regular reports about the way gifts have contributed to our success.

    We ascribe to the Code of Practice for Australian University Philanthropy

  • Endowment report

    View our annual Endowment Reports