Would you like to support a research project at our university before the end of the year? Or is your New Year’s resolution for 2026 to raise funds through an initiative? As of recently, doing so has become very easy via the University Fund action platform, which has relaunched this year with a new, enthusiastic team.
UAntwerp as a charity? That link doesn’t always come to mind straight away. But as a university, we play an important role in society through research, the creation of education opportunities and projects that highlight our social engagement – such as the one supporting students in financial need.
‘Donations allow us to respond to opportunities and challenges, accelerate research and create additional impact. The University Fund acts as a bridge between the university and people who want to make a positive difference,’ says Eline Joukes, coordinator of the University Fund.
New team, new start
In 2025, the University Fund made a fresh start, with a completely new team and a new baseline. ‘With the slogan “Your contribution opens up new possibilities”, our primary goal is to firmly position UAntwerp as a charity and to speak directly to people about the impact they can make,’ says policy officer Erlin Theunynck. ‘In addition, we want to build a movement of people who help shape the future and support a strong university.’ Their ambition is to reach everyone with a heart for UAntwerp: staff, students, researchers and alumni, but also individuals or organisations who feel involved in a specific research project.
‘By making a donation or starting an initiative, you can contribute to a theme that matters to you and become part of a group of people who want to have a positive impact,’ Eline adds.
‘We want to firmly position UAntwerp as a charity and build a movement of people who help shape the future and support a strong university.’
– Erlin Theunynck
2.67 million euros in 2024
Last year, the University Fund raised 2.67 million euros. Of that amount, 780 000 euros, largely donated by companies, was allocated to eleven different chairs. A further 307 000 euros was donated by private individuals and companies to sponsor research projects. ‘There were also two legacies totalling 988 000 euros, in support of Alzheimer’s and dementia research. These amounts naturally fluctuate from year to year,’ explains Jasmien Hoefkens. She manages the back office of the University Fund and ensures that all donations are properly registered. ‘That’s necessary so that we can later provide all donors with a tax certificate and ensure that each donation is allocated to the project chosen by the donor. Taken together, all these donations provide significant leverage,’ Jasmien continues.
We receive donations from both companies and individuals for chairs and research projects. Last year, we also received two large legacies for Alzheimer’s and dementia research. All these donations together provide significant leverage.
– Jasmien Hoefkens
As a donor, you decide yourself which project or research line your donation supports. The University Fund website brings together all active donation projects. If you can’t find the theme of your choice there, the University Fund can connect you to the right people in order to make your preferred form of engagement possible.
Projects that change lives
There’s no shortage of worthy causes. Take the project through which our university lends a helping hand to students in financial need.
Or another inspiring project called Luna. Eline: ‘It concerns a spin-off study of Isala, a citizen science project focusing on women’s health. Luna investigates the impact of menstrual products on the vaginal microbiome: a topic that quite literally affects half of the world’s population. Thanks to almost 800 study registrations, the researchers were able to collect thousands of samples. These will be analysed using high-end technologies to extract as many insights as possible. This is extremely expensive research, so donations are more than welcome.’
A new initiative is the Koen De Feyter Solidary Fund, created in tribute to the former dean of the Faculty of Law, who passed away last year. Erlin: ‘Koen De Feyter played an important role both within and beyond the university by putting justice and human rights at the centre of education, research and policy. The fund honours his legacy and supports students from partner universities in the Global South who find themselves in crisis situations. Concretely, there is cooperation with Birzeit University in the West Bank and the Université Catholique de Bukavu in Congo.’
Easily donate or set up a crowdfunding campaign via a new campaign platform
Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference. ‘Every euro counts. When many people take that step, the final result is a meaningful amount,’ says Eline.
That is why the University Fund invested in an online action platform: steun.uantwerpen.be. This allows you to easily support an initiative, start a crowdfunding initiative of your own or make a celebratory donation. Jasmien: ‘One example would be a retirement or anniversary celebration where the host asks guests to support cancer research at UAntwerp rather than bring a gift. Two such initiatives raised 12 500 euros over the past year.’
‘Every euro counts. Because if many people take that step, we will end up with a meaninful amount at the end of the day. Via steun.uantwerpen.be, we make it even easier to take the step towards donation.’
– Eline Joukes
The holiday season is an ideal period to donate to charity
With the holiday season approaching, the three hope for an extra wave of solidarity. ‘This year, consider asking for a donation to a good cause at our university instead of a Christmas present. Or why not buy tickets for all your friends and family to the benefit performance Fractie van een seconde (in Dutch) in February?’ Erlin suggests.
For donations of 40 euros or more, you’ll receive a tax certificate from UAntwerp. So if you’d like to claim your tax benefit before the end of the year, now’s the time.