Arts and Sciences Fund
Gifts to the Arts and Sciences Fund play a crucial role in funding the College of Arts and Sciences’ highest priorities — enhancing student engagement, recruiting and retaining faculty, deepening academic excellence and providing a global curriculum.
The Arts and Sciences Fund serves as the dean’s unrestricted discretionary fund. These dollars allow the dean to meet unexpected needs and support initiatives as they arise within the College.
The Arts and Sciences Fund helps shape the experience of every student in the College and the faculty who teach them. Examples include:
- Undergraduate Education: Every first-year student begins their Carolina journey in the College of Arts and Sciences. Your gift to the Arts and Sciences Fund supports the College’s undergraduate curriculum, IDEAs in Action, which provides guidance in navigating the first-year experience and high-impact educational opportunities that allow students to connect their studies to the outside world.
- Research Opportunities: The College of Arts and Sciences forms the academic core of the Carolina experience with a mission to create knowledge and discover innovative solutions to the world’s greatest challenges. Gifts to the Arts and Sciences Fund provide resources for faculty and students to research topics in the fine arts and humanities, the natural sciences and mathematics, and the social sciences.
- Study Abroad: The Arts and Sciences Fund enables students in the College of Arts and Sciences to study abroad in London, Hong Kong, the Galapagos and many more locations, providing them with the unique opportunity to experience other cultures and perspectives. By immersing themselves in different environments, students build their global awareness and gain new insights in their fields of study.
- Faculty Recruitment and Retention: Recruiting and retaining top-tier teacher-scholars who are among the most highly acclaimed in their fields and sought after by the world’s top-ranked universities is vital to Carolina’s standing as a global leader in teaching, learning and discovery. Our faculty members impart and discover knowledge; guide and mentor scholars of the future; drive innovation; and bring honor and prestige to their respective fields and to the University. The College is proud to have many distinguished professors who challenge their students to think across disciplines.
Donor Recognition
Dean’s Circle
The College of Arts and Sciences recognizes annual donors to the Arts and Sciences Fund of $1,500 or more as members of the Dean’s Circle. These alumni, friends and parents make a difference in the lives of College students and faculty every day through their leadership level support. We are incredibly grateful for the investment and pride that those in this group have for the College, and for their commitment to excellence.
Young alumni who make an annual contribution to the Arts and Sciences Fund of $500+ (1-5 years after graduation) and $1,000+ (6-10 years after graduation) will qualify as members of the Dean’s Circle.
Margaret Harper Society: $5,000+
Join the Margaret Harper Society within the Dean’s Circle with an annual contribution of $5,000 or more to the Arts and Sciences Fund. In 1975, Margaret Harper became the first of many donors to the Foundation with a gift of $1,000, the equivalent of about $5,000 today.
1975 Society: $50,000 to Celebrate 50 Years
The Arts and Sciences Foundation celebrates 50 years in 2025! In honor of this milestone, we invite you to become an inaugural member of the 1975 Society, named after our founding year, by pledging $50,000 or more to the Arts and Sciences Fund. Donors who make this commitment will receive an exclusive 50th anniversary gift and special recognition at the College’s biennial donor recognition event.
If you are interested in joining the 1975 Society, please reach out to Anna Peterson, Director of Annual Giving, at anna.peterson@unc.edu.
Contact Us
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Anna Peterson Director of Annual Giving |
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Jermani Horton Assistant Director of Annual Giving |
The Annual Fund