Carolina Giving

10/09/2026

Historic $10 million commitment made by Michael Jordan ’86 in honor of his mother, Deloris P. Jordan, creates scholarships, fuels research and strengthens centers and programs at the UNC School of Social Work.

This generosity is a major relief for scholarship recipients, allowing students to focus on making a difference, not financial worries.

10/08/2026

Michael Jordan’s historic $10 million gift honors his mother and expands UNC School of Social Work’s local and global impact. 🎉

A historic gift honoring a lasting legacy. 🩵

The Carolina community came together to celebrate Deloris P. Jordan and a shared commitment to strengthening families and communities for generations to come.

See how this historic moment will shape what’s next at Carolina. ➡️ https://unc.live/3W9LMlN

10/08/2026

Since 1980, the Summer Bridge program has been helping students feel more at home as they begin their college journey. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Shroffs, future Tar Heels will continue to have the support they need as they get settled into campus life.

We’re excited to share that the program will now be known as the Shroff Summer Bridge Program in recognition of their generosity and commitment to student success!

Read more about the Shroff Summer Bridge Program: https://unc.live/4ydqbqe

09/24/2026

A $20 million grant from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust will help make a major expansion of the Ackland Art Museum possible and unlock fresh opportunities to experience the arts at Carolina.

The grant was made in honor of Thomas S. “Tom” Kenan III ’59 and his nearly 50 years of dedication to the arts.

This funding will also allow the University to explore how architecture, landscape and public space could build on existing arts and cultural experiences to strengthen connections among them as plans for a new arts and culture district begin to take shape.

To honor Kenan’s impact, the University envisions naming a welcoming central green space within the new district Thomas S. Kenan III Place.

“Mr. Kenan has a steadfast appreciation for the arts as a vital component of a well-rounded education, and we are grateful that this grant will support increased access and exposure to the arts for the campus community, the town of Chapel Hill, and visitors from across the state and nation,” said Nancy J. Cable, executive director of the Kenan Charitable Trust.

As plans for a new arts and culture district begin, Carolina envisions Thomas S. Kenan III Place as a welcoming, central green space honoring his legacy.

Learn more about the impact of this gift: https://giving.unc.edu/stories/tkenan

09/22/2026

We're excited to announce that a $4.4 million grant from The Duke Endowment will help launch the North Carolina Collaborative Health AI Network (NC CHAIN).

This groundbreaking initiative empowers rural and resource-limited clinics and hospitals across North Carolina to harness AI tools for better patient care.

"This funding from The Duke Endowment lays the foundation for a statewide support infrastructure that leverages the immense digital health expertise of partners across North Carolina,” said Dr. David McSwain '01 (MPH), '02 (MD), principal investigator of NC CHAIN and chief medical informatics officer at UNC Health.

AI has already played an important role in healthcare, helping doctors spot issues faster and making everyday tasks easier for staff. Ultimately, this means healthcare teams can focus more on what matters most: caring for their patients.

We are looking forward to seeing how this statewide collaboration will make a positive impact! Read more: https://unc.live/4dLmkcf

08/05/2026

Did you know Carolina researchers are exploring how oyster reefs are being designed to improve water quality and support coastal communities?

Learn more about Mike Piehler, Director of the UNC Institute for the Environment and postdoctoral researcher Anne Smiley's work.

This video explores how oyster reefs are being designed to improve ...

07/22/2026

Looking for a change of scenery in this heat? Our next stop in Cool Off at Carolina is the Ackland Art Museum. 🎨

Whether you’re visiting for your favorite exhibit or wandering in for the first time, the is one of Carolina’s best places to spend an afternoon.

Free and open to all, the museum connects campus and community through art — made possible in part by the generosity of Carolina donors who help keep experiences like this accessible for everyone. 🩵

07/13/2026

Eli Levene, a Durham resident and breast cancer survivor, leaned on the UNC Get Real and Heel program to rebuild her strength. The program offers personalized fitness training to cancer patients at all stages of care – completely free of charge.

"When I learned I had breast cancer, it's like my body had failed me," said Levene. "I think the Get Real and Heel program has helped me connect to my body again in this way that's different, but so valuable."

Through support from the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Support Program, grants and private gifts, the program has provided its services for free for 20 years.

Read Eli's story below.

Get Real and Heel exercise program empowers Durham local after a decade-long journey with breast cancer

06/16/2026

We’re so excited for more Carolina Baseball in the 2026 Men’s College World Series this week! Curious how we keep our team going strong?

Take a look at the Carolina Baseball Operating Endowment and how the latest $9M gift will support our players year after year.

Go Heels! 🏆

“This investment will provide our players the resources necessary to maximize their potential and for our program to remain nationally competitive,” head coach Scott Forbes said.

06/10/2026

Carolina's innovators are pushing the limits of technology.

Nicholas Law, a professor in the physics and astronomy department in the College of Arts and Sciences is leading the construction of the Argus Array — a revolutionary telescope system that will capture a continuous, high-resolution video of the entire Northern sky

With 122 gigapixels of data collected every night, it will gather more information in its first few weeks than all optical telescopes in history combined.

Thanks to a transformational commitment from Schmidt Sciences and Alex Gerko, founder of XTX Markets, this unprecedented project will make astronomical data publicly available to researchers worldwide.

The Argus Array will enable real-time discovery across the universe in unprecedented detail with open access for all.