Vanderbilt University announced Monday that it had surpassed its $3.2 billion capital campaign goal 20 months ahead of its original June 30, 2026 target date.
The Dare to Grow fundraising campaign, named after Vanderbilt’s motto, Crescere aude, had focused on three principal areas: Destination Vanderbilt (support for faculty and students), Discovery Vanderbilt (funding for research and creative activity) and One Vanderbilt (support for strengthening the integration of several university activities, including intercollegiate athletics).
“This is a milestone we can all be proud of,” said Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, in a university release. “Thanks to every one of our donors and the team behind the campaign, Dare to Grow is fueling our ambition to become the Great University of the 21st Century.”
“It is changing lives through scholarships, opening doors for research, improving facilities for our student-athletes and fans, and much more. Having seen what we can accomplish together, we will set our aspirations higher and work together to reach them,” Diermeier continued.
The university’s release emphasized the “profound impact” the campaign, its largest in history, has already had, including the launch of the Roberts Academy and Dyslexia Center, Dialogue Vanderbilt, and the Berg Global Artist-in-Residence program, as well as hundreds of new undergraduate, graduate and professional student scholarships.
Since the campaign was launched, more than 138,500 supporters have made gifts that include :
- Approximately $654 million for faculty and research programs
- Creation of 161 new endowments for the support of faculty
- More than $452 million to support undergraduate students, in the form of 687 scholarships
- Gifts of $230 million for 489 graduate scholarships.
In addition, the campaign has raised about $453 million for Vanderbilt’s athletics programs through Vandy United, an initiative that features several new or enhanced facilities plus scholarships and support programs for intercollegiate athletics.
“Vanderbilt’s commitment to excellence is palpable not only on campus, but across our network of Commodores,” added Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations John Lutz, in the announcement. “Fundraising is a team sport, and the Vanderbilt community has worked together to reach and exceed this extraordinary goal. Now, in true Vanderbilt fashion, we can seize the opportunity to work even harder and drive even more life-changing impact through the end of the campaign and beyond.”
The university stated in its release that Dare to Grow fundraising will continue as it looks to increase private support for several other academic programs, research projects, expanded healthcare, and student support programs. It also will seek private support for its recently announced efforts to grow its presence in New York City and West Palm Beach.
“The Vanderbilt community is filled with people who, quite simply, never stop,” said Mark Mays, campaign co-chair and principal of Rocking M Capital and former CEO of Clear Channel Communications. “We see this in the university’s headline-making initiatives, our student-athletes’ victories, and this historic campaign, which, although it has surpassed its initial goal, is just getting started.”