Together, we’re building what’s next. Thank you!
Thanks to your support, students across our University of Waterloo campus community are pursuing their dreams, researchers are pushing the boundaries of knowledge, and we’re shaping a brighter future for humanity and our planet. See your incredible impact in the stories below.
Nenone Donaldson and Dr. Vivek Goel share the impact of your generosity on our campuses, the communities we connect with, and the world.
Your contributions fuel a spirit of curiosity and excellence that advances our understanding of ourselves, while transforming the future of humanity and our planet.
More ways to engage
Learn how donor-funded art installations across campus celebrate Indigenous culture and recognize Indigenous contributions to Waterloo and the world.
Inclusion, recognition and connection
Dr. Andy Houston is empowering students to tell bold, inclusive stories through theatre that challenges, heals and connects communities.
Investing in creativity, community and Canada
Protecting drivers from cyberattacks
Creating tomorrow together
Building future cities – and city builders
From co-op student to tech CEO, Jeff Shiner (BMath ’92) is championing future Canadian trailblazers through leadership, mentorship and generous support of Waterloo.
Donors across campus and beyond are investing in the Healthy Waterloo Initiative, transforming campus life into a living lab – and building a healthier Canada.
Protecting drivers from Cyberattacks
Backing the next gen of Canadian innovators
Creating Canada's healthiest campus
Financial Highlights
With cyber threats on the rise, PhD candidate Fan He is pioneering research to protect drivers of autonomous vehicles, thanks to support from donor Maks Wulkan.
Thanks to two visionary alumni, the Future Cities Institute equips students, researchers and community partners to develop real-world solutions to cities’ biggest challenges.
Backing the next generation of Canadian innovators
Creating Canada’s healthiest campus
See the financial impact of gifts to our Waterloo campus community.
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Global Futures: Innovation Update
Financial highlights
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Vivek Goel, CM, OOnt President and Vice-Chancellor
Creating tomorrow, together
Nenone Donaldson Vice-President, Advancement and External Relations
Donor investment in students and researchers at the University of Waterloo is a powerful catalyst for both personal growth and global impact. Your support gives students across our campuses access to enriching learning experiences, inspiring research opportunities, and the resources they need to thrive. Your investment in research provides funding and facilities that make ground-breaking scholarship possible, with the potential to improve millions of lives. This report celebrates how, thanks to your commitment, Waterloo continues to excel as a vibrant hub for exploration and transformative learning. Together, we’re shaping the future for our students, our community and our world. Thank you!
At the University of Waterloo, your support is helping us tackle the world’s most pressing challenges through bold, interdisciplinary collaboration. Our Global Futures vision focuses on five interconnected areas – each aligned with our academic and research strengths – to drive meaningful change in society, health, sustainability, technology and the economy. At the core of this work is our unwavering commitment to research and scholarship and preparing the next generation of leaders. Your contributions fuel a spirit of curiosity and excellence that advances our understanding of ourselves, while transforming the future of humanity and our planet. Thank you for your investment in our students and scholars. With your help, we are creating real-world solutions for a better tomorrow.
Global Futures Innovation Update
Inclusion, recognition and connection: Indigenous art at Waterloo
This year, with support from thoughtful donors, the University of Waterloo unveiled works of art celebrating Indigenous culture and recognizing Indigenous contributions to Waterloo and the world.
The Great Law of Peace
Kyle Joedicke, a Cayuga Turtle Clan artist from Six Nations, created the Tatham Centre mural, The Great Law of Peace, symbolizing unity and reconciliation. This mural was funded by Steve Menich and Mary Ellen Cullen (BA ’78), long-time supporters of Waterloo’s co-op program and St. Jerome’s University.
Indigenous Warriors logo
Kyle also designed the Indigenous Warriors logo, blending Woodland art with the University’s identity to honour Indigenous contributions to sport. The logo and an accompanying mural in the Physical Activities Centre were generously supported by Rob (BSc ’82) and Darlene Logan.
Dana Porter Library Mural
Tehatsistahawi (Tsista) Kennedy, an Anishinaabe Onyota’a:aka artist from Beausoleil First Nation and Oneida Nation of the Thames, designed the Dana Porter Library mural. His artwork incorporates images that emphasize the enduring importance of family and cultural continuity. The mural represents the University of Waterloo Libraries’ continued efforts in decolonization and reconciliation and was made possible by gifts to the Libraries’ general fund.
Territorial acknowledgement
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations. Learn more about Indigenous initiatives at Waterloo
“Art is a very individual thing, and it’s going to touch different people in different ways. Hopefully, there will be a connection between those who are non-Indigenous and Indigenous so that one can learn from the other.”
Mary Ellen Cullen (BA ’78)
“I want the award to help [students] become courageous explorers of [theatre], to go off and have an adventure and then bring that experience back and share it with us.”
For Dr. Andy Houston, theatre is much more than entertainment. It’s a democratic, healing and culturally vital force that builds strong citizens and vibrant communities.
Dr. Andy Houston Donor and associate professor, Faculty of Arts
Andy, an associate professor in the University of Waterloo’s Theatre and Performance program, has taught and created performances across Canada and in Europe. His area of expertise is in site-specific performance, which explores storytelling in non-traditional spaces and involves audiences in meaningful ways. Andy shares voices from Canada — of Six Nations land rights protesters, early 20th-century leather workers or refugees fleeing the collapse of Yugoslavia — in performances that can be both moving and challenging. But none of these stories might have been told if a scholarship hadn’t allowed Andy to study at the Centre for Performance Research in Cardiff, Wales. There, he was introduced to diverse theatrical traditions from cultures around the world. In Cardiff, Andy says, he learned to create “a world that doesn’t really look like what you see outside your door but instead makes you think about the space you are occupying now and how you can engage with it.”
Helping students find their voice
Now Andy is giving his students the same opportunity to expand their minds and direct their own learning. He established the endowed Houston Theatre and Performance Experiential Learning Fund to enable them to attend key industry events or participate in workshops and conferences where they can encounter new techniques and perspectives. Through these experiences, Andy hopes to empower students, especially those who may be new to Canada, to find their voice and identity through creative work that reflects their stories and experiences — and contributes to a richer, more inclusive culture. “I want the award to help them become courageous explorers of the medium, to go off and have an adventure and then bring that experience back and share it with us,” he says.
In an era of social and economic challenges, Andy believes that theatre, especially when audiences are active participants, can be a cathartic experience that promotes mental health and encourages collaboration and understanding. “I think the best theatre encourages us to check our assumptions and see beyond our expectations or perceptions,” he says. He adds that theatre also stimulates local economies by creating jobs, attracting tourism and fostering innovation and cultural investment.
Economic impact, personal growth
While Waterloo’s Theatre and Performance program may be small, Andy notes that it has gained a positive reputation among industry partners for its comprehensive curriculum and commitment to experiential education. “We teach students to make performances, not just study them, not just talk about them, not just think about their histories. We want them to make work that goes into the world,” he says. Thanks to Andy’s investment, generations of Waterloo students will be equipped to do just that — and Canada will be all the stronger for the unique stories they tell.
Celebrating Canadian stories
Protecting autonomous vehicle drivers from cyberattacks
Self-driving vehicles will not just operate with minimal human intervention, they will make “decisions” to adapt and react to changing situations on the road. Human drivers will literally take a back seat. But the more advanced cars become, the greater their vulnerability to cyberattacks. Fan He, a PhD candidate in the Department of Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo, is researching how drivers respond to different levels of cyberattacks to develop strategies and infrastructure that meet changing road safety requirements.
Maks Wulkan (BASc ’75) Donor
“The partnership between people and technology is still evolving. Now more than ever, supporting dedicated scholars is a critical investment in that future.”
The Maks Wulkan Graduate Scholarship was established with a donation from Waterloo Engineering alum Maks Wulkan (BASc ’75) and supports doctoral research in the Faculty of Engineering with an interest in HFE. “The partnership between people and technology is still evolving,” Maks says. “Human Factors Engineering adds a crucial dimension to traditional engineering by ensuring we design not just for functionality, but for meaningful adoption and intuitive use. Now more than ever, with the financial pressures of today’s economy, supporting dedicated scholars like Fan He is a critical investment in that future.”
Adding a crucial dimension to traditional engineering
For Fan, the most important part of winning the scholarship is the encouragement and confidence it has given her to pursue and deepen her HFE research interests, as well as explore new directions. “Thanks to this financial support, I have been able to focus on my research with less stress or interruptions. This means I’ll be able to share meaningful results and actionable solutions that are robust and timely.” Human-technology interaction is only just getting started,” Fan says. “The more we do now to explore HFE in all areas of our lives, the better prepared we’ll be for the future — both on and off the road.” Based on a story by Charlotte Danby and Jack Weatherston
Preparing for the future of human-tech interaction
As the inaugural recipient of the Maks Wulkan Graduate Scholarship, Fan is investigating how to improve road safety infrastructure so that drivers and passengers recognize a cyberattack when it happens and can access experienced cybersecurity experts for quick assistance. “With more people driving automated, software-enabled vehicles, drivers are becoming more and more like passengers,” Fan says. “We want to know how passengers can collaborate with external agents in the event of a cyberattack,” she continues. “What are the safest responses when you can’t directly control the vehicle? I aim to identify the kinds of attacks that would be most impactful on AV users and then look at ways they can defend against these potential dangers.” Fan’s research thesis emerges from the field of Human Factors Engineering (HFE) which examines how humans and technology interact to design safer, usable and efficient systems that improve the human experience.
The increasing integration of cars with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) means fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) will likely be a reality by 2050, if not sooner.
Designing safer, more useable systems
“We're committed to working with cities to create tools that will help them visualize and estimate different types of outcomes for different kinds of decisions they make.”
Innovation for an uncertain future
This opportunity is one facet of a bold vision brought to life by Waterloo alumni Frank Cairo (BES ’05) and Troy van Haastrecht (BASc ’93). As CEOs and co-founders of the CAIVAN Group, one of Canada’s leading real estate developers, Frank and Troy established the Future Cities Institute founded by CAIVAN (FCI) through a transformational $10-million gift. Their goal? To apply Waterloo’s strengths in applied science, engineering and entrepreneurial thinking to address the urgent challenges facing Canadian communities. Thanks to Frank and Troy’s support, FCI has become a hub for collaborative research and innovation. Since its launch in 2024, the Institute has connected dozens of students and researchers with a global network of industry leaders and community stakeholders. “The world is urbanizing faster than ever before, and the future is uncertain,” says Dr. Leia Minaker, director of FCI. “We're committed to working with cities to create tools that will help them visualize and estimate different types of outcomes for different kinds of decisions they make.”
“This is the kind of project you dream of as a student – to take on a challenge that matters and see your work make an impact,” says Ivena Yeung. Earlier this year, the Waterloo Math student helped develop a GIS-based tool that simplifies access to municipal policies and zoning regulations for the City of Iqaluit as part of the iCapstone: Future Cities program. iCapstone is the University of Waterloo’s first interdisciplinary undergraduate capstone program. Designed to unite students from every faculty, iCapstone connects student teams with partners in government and community organizations to tackle complex problems facing Canadian municipalities — while earning academic credit.
Collaborating to solve urban challenges
Housed in the Faculty of Environment, FCI is deeply interdisciplinary, drawing on expertise from across the University to tackle four key urban challenges: housing, integrated modelling, mobility and sustainable infrastructure. This collaborative approach ensures that solutions are both innovative and practical. Together, FCI and its partners are developing tools and technology that urban planners, policymakers and developers can use to improve city planning and development. Among their key projects, FCI researchers are partnering with municipal governments to create a decision tool for planning infrastructure and land use more effectively. Some examples of applied research include collaboration with the City of Edmonton to create and share applied AI solutions for diverse urban issues with other Canadian municipalities and working with industry and community leaders to develop scorecards to help city builders understand their readiness to meet their growth projections.
Preparing a new generation of city builders
FCI also offers a dynamic learning environment that reflects the Institute’s focus on research, collaboration and interdisciplinarity. In addition to iCapstone, students can compete in the Future Cities Innovation Challenge, gaining hands-on experience in problem-solving, or participate in international field studies to expand their understanding of global sustainability challenges. Through these educational opportunities, FCI is cultivating a new generation of city builders. Reflecting on FCI’s journey over the past year, Leia emphasizes the transformative role the founders have played in shaping its mission and impact. “CAIVAN’s support has enabled us to bridge the gap between research and practice, foster deep collaboration across sectors and create unparalleled learning opportunities for students. Thanks to their leadership, FCI is actively shaping more inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities.” Based on stories by Angie Docking and Chantal Vallis
From its beginnings as a small startup of just 20 employees, 1Password has grown under the leadership of CEO Jeff Shiner (BMath ’92) into a global powerhouse.
During his co-op terms at IBM, Shiner (who goes by his last name) discovered his passion for solving real-world problems. “The co-op program was by far the most rewarding part of my time at Waterloo,” he recalls. “It not only provided me with a world-class education but also allowed me to work at a global technology innovator like IBM on projects that had a tangible impact.”
This hands-on experience was crucial in shaping Shiner's career, providing him with both technical and business expertise. Today, he leads 1Password, a global cybersecurity company and pioneer of the Extended Access Management category, which has grown to more than 1,400 employees, with a valuation of $9 billion. Purpose-built for the way people and AI agents work today, the company’s suite of security solutions helps more than 165,000 businesses and millions of consumers navigate the online world safely and with confidence. “At 1Password, we’re committed to making security simple and accessible for everyone,” Shiner says. "Our goal is to remove the fear and friction often associated with online safety, enabling people to focus on what matters without worrying about their personal or professional information being compromised.” Shiner’s journey from a Waterloo student to the head of a tech unicorn highlights the strength of the University’s co-operative education program. Waterloo’s emphasis on blending education with industry experience has helped produce top tech leaders like Shiner, who are making significant impacts globally. “The lessons I learned at UWaterloo still guide me today. They’ve shaped how I lead, how I build and how we’ve scaled 1Password into a multi-product cybersecurity leader,” he says.
From co-op student to tech leader
Shiner’s efforts to improve society through technology and entrepreneurship extend beyond online safety. He also serves on the board of directors of GenomOncology, a company that provides the health care community with data-driven insights to improve cancer care. His commitment to health care is also evident in his philanthropic support of the University of Waterloo’s Mathematical Medicine Laboratory, where researchers develop mathematical models to better understand disease progression and identify optimal treatment strategies. Shiner’s support for the laboratory is just one example of his ongoing contributions to the University and its students. As a Challenge Champion for Waterloo’s inaugural Giving Day, he generously pledged to match donations to the Math General Fund up to $50,000. Beyond financial gifts, he actively engages with students, recently participating in an Ask Me Anything session as part of the Math Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Impact Series. “Looking back on my time at the University of Waterloo, I’m reminded just how foundational it was to my career,” he says. “That’s why I’m so proud to support Waterloo — not just as an alum, but as someone who believes in backing the next generation of Canadian innovators and builders.” Based on a story by Jordan Flemming
Supporting innovation in health and education
Jeff Shiner BMath ’92
“Looking back on my time at the University of Waterloo, I’m reminded just how foundational it was to my career. That’s why I’m so proud to support Waterloo.”
Imagine a future where health begins not in hospitals, but in the everyday spaces where we live, work and learn. That future is taking shape at the University of Waterloo through the Healthy Waterloo Initiative.
At the heart of this initiative is a powerful idea: that the University can serve as a living lab — a real-world environment where researchers, students, staff and industry partners collaborate to test and scale innovative solutions that promote health. With more than 6,000 employees and 40,000 students, Waterloo is an ideal microcosm for exploring how to help people thrive in their daily lives. The stakes are high. Chronic diseases account for over half of the global burden of disease and cost Canadians more than $190 billion annually in health care and lost productivity. The Healthy Waterloo Initiative aims to tackle this crisis by addressing the root causes of poor health — nutrition, physical activity, sleep and social connection — through evidence-based interventions and new technologies.
Donor support brings the vision to life
While still in the planning stage, the initiative is already attracting attention from donors who recognize its potential. Among those who have chosen to support the Healthy Waterloo Initiative are recent retirees Katherine Marshall and Dr. Paul Stolee. As the former Executive Officer in Waterloo’s Faculty of Health, Katherine was involved in developing the concepts behind the Health Initiatives Fund. “I’m enthusiastic about the vision of transforming the University into a living lab, and I’m pleased to support this important initiative,” she says. Paul, a former student and faculty member in the Faculty of Health, who was recently named Distinguished Professor Emeritus, says he has “seen first-hand the faculty’s capacity and commitment to solving real-world problems. I am glad to have the opportunity to advance this important work by supporting the Healthy Waterloo Initiative Fund.”
Leading transformation in health and well-being
Making Waterloo Canada’s healthiest campus means looking at social determinants of health and mental and physical wellbeing and integrating health-promoting practices into every aspect of campus life. For instance, we are developing strategic partnerships between the University and Canadian health tech companies to help transform health and well-being across the country and beyond. From using wearable tech to encourage movement, to leveraging AI-powered tools to improve nutrition, the initiative will test what works — and then share those insights with the world. Waterloo is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. With 16 health-focused research chairs and renowned programs in pharmacy, optometry, kinesiology and public health, the University brings unmatched expertise to the table. The selection of our north campus as the site of a new regional hospital further cements Waterloo’s role as a hub for health-care innovation.
A model for the future of public health
But the Healthy Waterloo Initiative is more than a campus project — it’s creating a model for the future of public health in Waterloo Region, in Canada and around the world. By turning everyday environments into engines of well-being, Waterloo is demonstrating how we can prevent chronic disease, reduce health-care costs and build healthier communities. Thanks to the support of donors like Paul and Katherine, the Healthy Waterloo Initiative is becoming a reality. Together, we are redefining what it means to be well.
Dr. Paul Stolee Distinguished Professor Emeritus
“I’ve seen first-hand the Faculty of Health’s capacity and commitment to solving real-world problems. I am glad to have the opportunity to advance this important work.”
Thank you, Giving Day donors!
$748,744 Dollars raised*
1,465 Donors
177 Funds supported
Thank you to our entire community for coming together to make our first-ever UWaterloo Giving Day on May 15, 2025, a success! Your generosity has helped to fund scholarships, meaningful learning experiences, groundbreaking research and innovation across campus, and laid the foundation for a new tradition of giving at Waterloo.
Zhongyu Xie, Recipient of the Ping Yang Scholarship (Math)
“Your award isn’t just a scholarship to me; it’s a symbol of collective hope. It reinforces my conviction that when we invest in bright minds and bold ideas, we can rewrite the story of diseases like cancer.”
Mike Stork, Angel investor and philanthropist
“My parents received exemplary vision care from optometrists educated at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, and it made a profound difference in their lives. Their experiences inspired me to give back … by supporting the Waterloo Eye Institute.”
Stephen Szimanski, BA ’06
“I donate to the Men’s Football Program to support the next generation of student athletes. They need these investments. I don’t know if half the guys that I played football with would be playing football now because of the time commitment and money that it takes.”
Jodi Szimanski, BA ’97, MBET ’20
“I give to the Co-op and Experiential Education Fund because I remember what it was like as a student, balancing my finances and often worrying about things like groceries.”
Aida Kamel, University of Waterloo Retiree
“My heart is connected to the University of Waterloo. The greatness of its position as a place of advanced research and a top university worldwide makes me proud to be in its vicinity.”
Ron Champion, BA ’79 President, University of Waterloo Retirees Association
“Why am I still connected after 52 years? Simple: University of Waterloo = interesting people doing interesting things”
$18M
Programs
$15M
Research
Chairs/ Professorships
$13.6M
$4.3M
Buildings
$15.8M
Scholarships
$43.5M
Foundations, Corporations and Organizations
$13.4M
Honorary Alumni and Alumni
$3M
Students
Raised from the following groups
$66.7M Raised from the following groups
$4.2M
Parents and friends
$2.6M
Faculty, Staff and Retirees
These figures represent dollars RAISED and include cash, pledges, gifts-in-kind and other revenue promised or given May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025. Figures exclude payments on pledges made prior to the current year. All figures are unaudited.
Endowment Highlights
6,646*
donors in 34 countries
877
individually named endowments
21
new endowments established in 2024/2025
Total raised
$66.7M Total raised
$608,300,000
Total endowment market value, as at April 30, 2025. The value at which investments in the endowment pool could be sold in the open market.
$491,500,000
Total book value, as at April 30, 2025. The value of all contributions and capitalized earnings that have been deposited in the endowment principal.
Drew Davidson Recipient of the endowed Engineer of the Future Award
“Work-related cancer is the biggest killer of firefighters and can be traced back to the materials used in their bunker gear. Inspired by my mom, a firefighter, I’m developing a new material that will provide them with safe and effective gear. This award will help me ensure that firefighters come home safe.”
9.35%
For the year ending April 30, 2025 our endowment fund achieved a total return of 9.35% and over the past ten years, it has delivered an annualized return of 6.72% (returns reported net of fees).
*Figure does not include the thousands of students each year who make voluntary contributions.
*Funds collected for 2025 Giving Day were received after the 2024-2025 fiscal year and will be reflected in the 2025-2026 overall financials.
