DURHAM — The University of New Hampshire Foundation on Wednesday announced one of its best ever fundraising years.

Gifts and pledges in fiscal 2012, which ended June 30, were up more than 77 percent from last year, to a total of $22.5 million.

The goal was $20 million.

The total raised is second only to the final year of the last capital campaign in 2002, according to a release from the foundation.

The foundation said its annual giving programs, the UNH Fund and the Wildcat Fund, also had their best year, combining to bring in $1.8 million, up 7.3 percent from last year.

The Wildcat Fund, which supports UNH Athletics, showed a 24 percent growth over last year.

More than $7.5 million was raised for scholarship support.

There also was an overall increase of 838 donors, or 4.5 percent, to all giving programs, including annual giving, gift planning, major gifts and principal gifts.

The annual programs saw an increase in new donors, up 9.4 percent to 3,376 first-time donors this year, the release said.

According to Bill Deptula, associate vice president of advancement and executive director of development, the increase in the number of donors was achieved in tandem with the foundation’s work to increase efficiency by implementing an aggressive shift from telemarketing to a more cost-effective direct-mail marketing program.

“As we continue to plan for a comprehensive campaign, this represents a vote of confidence in UNH from more than 19,000 alumni and friends,” UNH President Mark W. Huddleston said.

Huddleston also is serving as the interim president of the UNH Foundation.

“Private support, especially in light of a historic cut in public funding from the New Hampshire Legislature, is crucial for student scholarship support and faculty development,” he said.

Huddleston credited the work of the development staff, which reached out to previous donors as well as 3,376 new donors, noting that gift officers have visited with alumni around the country throughout the year.

Huddleston himself hit the road to meet with alumni and friends throughout the country.

“People I talk with really believe in this place and they believe in paying it forward,” he said. “They received an outstanding education here, they’ve hired our graduates, they’ve benefited from our research findings, they attend our athletic and alumni events. The reasons our donors give are varied, but it’s always with the desire to help the next generation of students.”

UNH alumni participation remained stable in fiscal 2012 at 7.4 percent, the release said.

gmacalaster@newstote.com