It took 14 years, 30,000 donors and 73,000 instances of giving for Melbourne University to reach its ambitious $1 billion philanthropy campaign target last week with a handy additional $170,000 in the bank.

Among the beneficiaries of one of the largest philanthropic campaigns in Australian history, was the eastern barred bandicoot, which had its conservation status modified last year from extinct in the wild to endangered. A total of $18,000 was raised from 153 donors, which was leveraged to attract a $50,000 gift from a foundation.