Q&A with UH Foundation CEO Tim Dolan

The University of Hawai’i Foundation announced this week that it has raised $171.7 million in fiscal year 2025 to further support students, faculty and research, across the system’s 10 campuses statewide.

Officials noted, thanks to nearly 18,000 donors, this “marks the fifth consecutive year the UH Foundation has surpassed $100 million in annual giving.”

“These results reflect the deep trust our donors place in UH to improve the quality of life in Hawai‘i through higher education — both today and for generations to come,” said UH President Wendy Hensel in a statement. “Every gift has an impact, whether it helps a student thrive, strengthens our faculty or fuels world-class research that tackles Hawai‘i’s and the world’s most pressing challenges.”

The UH Foundation launched the $1 billion campaign, For UH • For Hawaiʻi, in November 2023, which focuses on "education, enrichment and enlightenment ... for our children, our elders, our friends and our neighbors,” its website states.

 In FY25, the foundation raised:

• $27.7 million for student scholarships
• $40.1 million for faculty and academic support and research
• More than $800,000 during UH’s Giving Day (36% higher than the year prior).

Other notable gifts included:

• Building on a $2 million gift in 2024, the Gilbert and Aileen Chuck Charitable Trust donated an additional $1 million gift to support nursing students at UH Maui College’s School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene. 
• A $1 million endowment from alumni John D’Amato and Kristina Inn honoring UH Mānoa anthropology professors Jacob “Jack” Bilmes and Alice Dewey.

“Gifts also included heartfelt contributions in honor of loved ones and commitments from alumni and community members for scholarships, research, facilities and student programs,” according to UH.

Aloha State Daily asked Tim Dolan, UH vice president of advancement and UH Foundation CEO, more about the campaign, its overall impact and his favorite part about his job.

What new or ongoing initiatives are you most excited about this year? What challenges are you currently facing?

We are energized by our For UH For Hawai‘i comprehensive campaign, the most ambitious comprehensive fundraising effort in our history. The goal is to raise $1 billion for UH and we are three-fourths of the way there, thanks to our incredible donors. 

This campaign is about investing in our students, fueling groundbreaking research and strengthening the university’s ability to serve Hawai‘i for generations. This includes expanding access through scholarships and student support and advancing research that addresses challenges unique to our Islands — from sustainability and climate resilience to health disparities. 

One challenge we, like many other institutionally related foundations face, is maintaining sustained program growth so that we can meet the increasing needs and leverage the emerging opportunities within our public universities. Thanks to our donors and UH partners, we are optimistic that together we can keep making a positive impact for Hawai‘i.

How is fundraising going? What creative ideas have you found successful?

Fundraising is going well, and we just wrapped up fiscal year 2025 with a record $171.7 million raised in philanthropic support. This marks the fifth consecutive year of raising more than $100 million in support of the system's 10 campuses. 

The creative ideas that bring success so often come from our donors who, are driven by big ideas around how to make our community better – and know that philanthropic investments in UH are a powerful way to make positive impact.

Long-term, what overall impact on students, faculty, facilities and research do you hope to make and what will it take to get there?

Our vision is to ensure that every student who dreams of a University of Hawai‘i education has the resources to succeed; that our faculty have the support to teach, mentor and innovate; that our facilities remain world-class; and that our research continues to address Hawai‘i’s most pressing challenges.

Achieving this will take sustained philanthropic investment, strategic partnerships and a strong belief in the power of higher education to transform lives and communities.

For you, what is the most rewarding part of this work?

The most rewarding part is witnessing the impact of generosity firsthand. Seeing a student thrive because of a scholarship, or learning how a research breakthrough is addressing real challenges facing people in our community, it is a privilege to connect donors with the outcomes their gifts make possible. It’s a constant reminder that philanthropy is not just about dollars raised; it’s about hope, opportunity and creating a better future for Hawai‘i.

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