The campaign for the University and Colleges of Cambridge will focus on the University’s impact on the world. Cambridge will be working with philanthropists to address major global problems.
Through it, major investment has been secured in a programme of research into the causes of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease led by Professor Chris Dobson, Master of St John’s College.
It will feed into the dynamic environment of the Cambridge technology cluster, helping to drive innovation and entrepreneurship. James Dyson is giving to the campaign in support of the next generation of engineers who will lead this effort.
Recent gifts have included a major gift to economics research and teaching from Bill and Weslie Janeway, one from the ALBORADA Trust to support the development of African research capacity in areas such as infectious disease and governance and human rights, and a gift by Dennis and Mireille Gillings to support global public health leadership in partnership with Institut Pasteur.
5,000 donors have already given to the campaign, many of whom are Cambridge alumni, motivated to give back to their college in recognition of the education they received as students.
Co-Chairs of the campaign are Dr Mohamed A. El-Erian, one of the world’s most successful investors, and Harvey McGrath, Chairman of Big Society Capital. Both Dr El-Erian and Mr McGrath have been closely involved with preparations for the campaign over the last two years.
Dr El-Erian said: “I am delighted to be co-chairing this campaign, and to be signalling my philanthropic commitment to Cambridge. My experience at Cambridge has shaped my entire life since – it has been the main driver of my professional development – and for good reason. Cambridge taught me not just what, but how, to think – as it has done so for countless others for over 800 years.”
Mr McGrath said: “Private capital has a crucial role to play in addressing societal issues. It can enable risk taking and original thought. It can support new approaches to old problems. Nowhere is this truer than at the University of Cambridge, which makes such a major contribution to the world in such a diversity of ways, and I am proud to be co-chairing this campaign.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Leszek Borysiewicz, said: “Philanthropy is vital to the future of Cambridge: it underpins our ambition by allowing us the space to innovate, free from the constraints of political and economic change. In addition, I want to see Cambridge rise to the world’s many challenges in energy, food, healthcare, education, and inequality. Philanthropy is uniquely placed to enable the new ways of working and partnerships with NGOs and industry that can see us make a powerful contribution in these critical areas.”
Dr Mohamed A. El-Erian
The former Chief Executive of PIMCO, one of the world’s largest investment management companies, Dr El-Erian now serves as Chair of President Obama’s Global Development Council, Chief Economic Advisor for Allianz, and writes regularly for Bloomberg, the Financial Times and Project Syndicate. Dr El-Erian is honorary fellow and alumnus of Queens’ College (Economics, 1977).
Mr Harvey McGrath
Mr McGrath is an alumnus of St Catharine’s (Geography, 1971) and is now Chairman of Big Society Capital. He is Chairman of a number of charities, including Heart of the City and the Prince’s Teaching Institute, and is a trustee of New Philanthropy Capital, and the Mayor’s Fund for London. He is a member of the Guild of Cambridge Benefactors and was awarded The Chancellor’s 800th Anniversary Medal for Outstanding Philanthropy in June 2012.
The University of Cambridge will launch a £2 billion fundraising campaign this weekend as it announces that it has already raised more than £500 million towards that total.
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