The Urban Land Institute (ULI) and ULI Foundation today announced the successful conclusion of Our Cities, Our Future, the Foundation’s first capital campaign and the largest fundraising effort in the Institute’s history, with contributions from members and philanthropic partners reaching $100 million.
To date, nearly 6,000 donors have joined the effort, representing a diverse cross-section of members, industry leaders, and philanthropic partners who believe in the power of thoughtful land use to improve lives.
Launched publicly in 2022 to advance ULI’s mission of shaping the future of the built environment, the campaign has driven global initiatives that address urgent land use issues and foster resilient, thriving cities worldwide. These efforts include multidisciplinary programs, research, and knowledge exchanges through the Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real Estate and the Terwilliger Center for Housing. They also enhance ULI’s technical assistance services—from Advisory Services panels to various place-based projects—while building a strong pipeline of future leaders through scholarships, mentorships, and immersive programs like UrbanPlan, promoting ongoing growth and opportunity in the field. The campaign was led by ULI member leaders Doug Abbey and Tom Toomey, who have rallied members, supporters, and partners to invest in ULI’s future.
“The overarching goal of this campaign was to scale ULI’s mission-driven work,” said Doug Abbey, capital campaign co-chair. “We’ve united members and donors around a shared belief in cities as the bedrock of opportunity where communities can thrive as engines of opportunity, livability, and resilience.”
“ULI is uniquely positioned to influence the built environment at a global scale,” added Tom Toomey, capital campaign co-chair and ULI Foundation chair. “The success of this campaign ensures we can meet the moment and mobilize our network to deliver real impact in communities around the world.”
“ULI members have a deep passion to drive equitable growth in communities and deliver lasting value for people and places,” said ULI Global CEO Angela Cain. “With these long-term, strategic investments, we can drive meaningful programming, respond rapidly to challenges, and expand opportunities where they can have the most impact.”
Since the campaign’s launch, giving towards ULI’s annual fund has reached nearly $10 million. This success reflects the power of collective giving, with contributions from members at every stage of their careers. Every gift, large or small, helps drive ULI’s ongoing programs and research, ensuring greater reach and impact. In addition, many members have included ULI in their legacy giving, ensuring their support will continue to advance our mission for years to come. The campaign has also been fueled by major philanthropic investments of $1 million or more, supporting the following strategic initiatives:
- The ULI Chair’s Fund was established to build a $50 million endowment of unrestricted giving, ensuring ULI can respond nimbly to emerging opportunities while advancing long-term priorities and impact. Launched in 2019 with a substantial inaugural gift from Doug Abbey, James D. Klingbeil, and Tom Toomey, the fund was further strengthened in 2024 by a major commitment from the Nancy and Geoffrey Stack Family Foundation.
- The ULI Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real Estate advances healthy, sustainable, and resilient communities worldwide. Established through a gift from Randall Lewis, the Center brings together global experts, produces influential research, and equips leaders with tools to drive emission reductions from buildings and land use, respond to climate risks, and promote approaches that make places healthier. Since 2021, it has engaged more than 85,000 people and reached nearly 130,000 readers. Noteworthy initiatives include the Health Leaders Network, connecting 280 professionals championing health-oriented real estate development; the Resilience Summit, ULI’s flagship climate adaptation event now in its sixth year; and Greenprint, a network of more than 130 companies that achieved a 6.3 percent reduction in carbon emissions and a 2.7 percent drop in energy use between 2022 and 2023.
- The ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing advances critical research into America’s housing affordability crisis. Building on J. Ronald Terwilliger’s original gift that established the Center in 2007, his campaign support expands ULI’s capacity to deliver practical, scalable solutions that shape housing policy and development nationwide. Since 2020, the Center has published five major index releases, convened nearly 8,000 professionals, completed 24 technical assistance engagements with communities, honored industry leaders, and drawn nearly 3,000 participants to its Housing Opportunity Conferences.
- The Advisory Services program strengthens ULI’s ability to deliver customized, expert-driven guidance to communities nationwide. Gifts from the Klingbeil Family Foundation and Alex Rose have supported this important work. Since the campaign began, 120 experts have volunteered more than 69,000 hours serving over 16 communities, helping cities like Pittsburgh and San Francisco revitalize their urban cores, supporting resort towns such as Steamboat Springs, Colorado, with housing challenges, guiding economic growth strategies in Cincinnati, Ohio; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Buffalo, New York; Rochester, New York; and Vancouver, British Columbia and providing disaster recovery guidance to Nashville, Tennessee, and Asheville, North Carolina.
- The Homeless to Housed (H2H) initiative mobilizes the real estate community to address homelessness by advancing best practices and effective solutions. Launched in 2022 with a gift from Carolyn and Preston Butcher, H2H has hosted more than 50 programs, published 22 case studies to its growing solutions library, and awarded grants to nine communities to advance deeply affordable supportive housing.
- The Curtis Infrastructure Initiative advances bold projects that provide visible examples of equitable, resilient infrastructure that enhance long-term community value. Made possible by the generosity of the late James J. Curtis, III, the Initiative has supported district council grants that, in turn, have attracted significant local funding, along with publications like Building 15-Minute Communities, equipping leaders with practical strategies to deliver lasting community and real estate value.
- The Etkin Scholars program connects college and university students to ULI’s global network, offering learning pathways and real-world insights into real estate and land use. With Bruce Etkin’s support in 2022, the program has expanded, empowering more than 415 students with the skills, knowledge, and professional connections needed to become future industry leaders.
- The A. Eugene Kohn/KPF Fellowship drives research and solutions in low-carbon design, transit-oriented development, urban green space, and community policy. It has already produced two influential reports —the first on how developers and building owners can cut life-cycle emissions while balancing costs and design choices, and the second on how adaptive reuse delivers economic, environmental, and social benefits that can enhance long-term real estate value. The fellowship was established with a gift from Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates in honor of A. Eugene Kohn’s appointment as a ULI Life Trustee.
- The ULI UrbanPlan program gives students, public officials, and community members hands-on experience with the forces that shape urban development. Thanks to generous support from Ron and Mary Nahas and other members, UrbanPlan reached more than 27,000 people worldwide during the campaign and introduced new digital tools to help communities reimagine their built environment.
- The Net Zero Imperative (NZI) accelerates building decarbonization through local action. Established with the support of a gift from Owen Thomas as part of the campaign, and strengthened by notable contributions from several member leaders, NZI has engaged nearly 30 district and national councils worldwide, delivering technical assistance and bringing public and private-sector leaders together to advance decarbonization at scale.
Supporting Foundations
In addition to ULI’s member donors, the Foundation has also received major grants totaling over $12 million from the Freedom Together Foundation, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Walton Family Foundation. These grants are empowering ULI to tackle pressing regional challenges, from expanding affordable housing and supporting small cities’ planning capacity to integrating health, equity, and sustainability into real estate development.
“This campaign and its success reflect the collective strength of ULI—our members, partners, and staff—working together as one ULI to advance our mission and create lasting impact in communities worldwide,” said Franz Colloredo-Mansfeld, ULI Global Chair.
“The scale of today’s urban challenges demands the coordinated response this campaign enables,” said ULI Foundation President Vincent Ilustre. “Every dollar from our members, whether through the annual fund, major gifts, or partnerships with philanthropic foundations, drives tangible impact in cities worldwide. Achieving this $100 million milestone is a historic moment for the Foundation, and a testament to the extraordinary generosity and belief our community has placed in ULI. Together, we have built momentum that will continue to strengthen ULI’s ability to shape thriving, sustainable cities for generations to come.”
Learn more about how ULI’s work across cities and communities is transforming lives, thanks to the generosity of its members and partners here.