It starts with you

Community Giving Impact Report 2025-26

Philanthropic support has driven UCalgary impact since the very beginning, from the supporters who rallied for the school’s independence, to the business and community leaders whose generosity shaped our campuses, to the tens of thousands of donors — alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends — from all walks of life whose collective might has empowered students, advanced scientific discovery and life-saving research, created new industries and grown the economy, and emboldened a young university to punch far above its weight class.

As we mark the university’s diamond anniversary, we celebrate the past 60-plus years — milestones achieved, challenges overcome, opportunities seized and history made — and we look ahead, energized by so much yet to come. Most importantly, we celebrate you, our donor community, because you are the common thread through it all.

You carry forward the momentum created by those who came before, and the entrepreneurial spirit that has shaped UCalgary from the get-go. You stand among like minds today, each stepping up to create meaningful change for a better world. And you inspire the changemakers of tomorrow, with your philanthropy as an enduring legacy.

Look back on what you helped build, and take pride in being part of it.

UCalgary impact is measured not only by what happens on campus, but how we serve the community — like providing essential services to underserved populations, advancing policies in the public interest, creating opportunities for connection and lifelong learning, preserving history and fostering cross-cultural understanding, and more. Philanthropy makes it happen, elevating both our community and the student experience.

Enriching early education

When reading challenges go unaddressed, it can have significant, long-lasting effects on children. The Reading Intervention Program at the Werklund School of Education's Centre for Wellbeing in Education is changing that trajectory for those who struggle with reading, with evidence-based strategies — delivered by graduate students and a supervising psychologist — to help kids overcome challenges and thrive in school.

Practicing care and compassion

Veterinary services can be out of reach for many pet owners facing financial barriers, creating difficult choices for families. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Community Care Clinic bridges that gap with accessible, subsidized services for clients referred by community organizations such as animal welfare organizations, social services and Indigenous partners — while also giving students real-world experience that helps them become compassionate, practice-ready vets.

Connecting with culture

With steadfast Giving Day support from a deeply engaged community, UCalgary's Faculty of Arts is building one of the most comprehensive offerings of Sikh Studies in North America. Through scholarship, research and public engagement, the program fosters cross-cultural understanding and the Sikh traditions of pluralism, equity, philosophy and history.

Reframing violence prevention

Ending domestic violence starts with changing the conditions that enable it — through research, education and policy. It all comes together under Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence at the Faculty of Social Work, working with men and boys as partners in prevention, with parents to cultivate healthy youth relationships, with law enforcement to shift culture and norms, and with governments to promote gender equity.

“This clinic is more than a place for treatment; it’s where students learn to connect with clients from diverse backgrounds and navigate the complex realities of veterinary practice. They’ll graduate with both strong clinical skills and a foundation in community-focused care.”

Janine Simpson

UCVM Community Care Clinic manager

Looking back ...

In 1974, the University of Calgary Library and Faculty of Environmental Design established the Canadian Architectural Archives, which houses donated collections dating back to the early 20th century. By situating the archives within the faculty, the historical record supports research and education by offering insights into how built environments evolve over time.

Looking ahead ...

More than 50 years later, the faculty itself — now the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape — is strategically situated in Calgary’s downtown core, embedding education, research and community revitalization directly into the heart of the city, where students can apply their knowledge in a practical, hands-on urban setting.

Illustrations by Jarett Sitter

An exceptional student experience is more than just lectures and textbooks. It’s hands-on learning and mentorships that prepare graduates for real-world careers. It’s student awards that attract and retain bright minds and make university more accessible. It’s support programs that enrich mental health and wellness and see students through emergency circumstances. They’ve long been part of the UCalgary student experience — and long been supported by donors.

Making the case

For nearly 50 years, UCalgary students have been dominating case competitions, tackling complex business problems alongside teams from across Canada and around the world. More than contests, these events are transformative learning experiences, testing students’ critical-thinking, creativity and presentation skills and preparing them for real-world decision-making in today’s competitive global economy.

Forging a new path

For those who are the first in their families to attend university, navigating the complexities of post-secondary education can be daunting, making UCalgary’s First-Generation Students Program a lifeline, connecting students with mentors who guide them through academic and personal life challenges.

two students seated across from one another at a table

“Case competitions have shaped my career more than any other experience in university. They taught me not to box myself into one field, but to stay curious and adaptable, all while helping me find clarity in what I value most — collaboration, creativity and impact.”

Yalena Sermeno

Haskayne School of Business student

Looking back …

Each year, engineering students from across Canada put their ingenuity to the test with the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race, designing and constructing metal and concrete sleds to withstand a five-person journey down a snowy hill — with varying success and near-guaranteed fun. First hosted in Alberta more than 50 years ago by UCalgary’s Civil Engineering Class of 1975, the event has grown into one of the country’s largest and oldest engineering competitions.

Looking ahead …

Meanwhile, another UCalgary student team is preparing to launch their own project in 2026, not down an icy slope, but 500 kilometres up into the atmosphere. FrontierSat — which will study upper atmospheric ionized winds once in orbit — is Calgary’s first-ever student-developed satellite. More than 100 students from the Schulich School of Engineering and Faculty of Science have contributed to the project, gaining hands-on experience in aerospace innovation.

Student awards

More than 5,800 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students received donor-supported awards last year. Scholarships and bursaries attract the best and brightest to UCalgary and reduce financial pressures so they can focus on their studies and access opportunities that help unlock their full potential.

“Receiving this scholarship is absolutely life changing. I definitely didn’t expect it. This scholarship acts as a catalyst for me to pursue my passions without any financial barriers and I’m so grateful to have been chosen.”

Tanisha Mattapalli

Kennedy Scholarship recipient, UCeed Haskayne Student Fund participant

UCalgary Giving Day

Giving Day 2025 was one of our most successful, with 3,200 alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends raising an incredible $2.5 million, proving you don’t have to be on campus to support students or be a scientist to advance research — your gift makes it happen.