Yale’s For Humanity fundraising campaign hits $5.8 billion
The campaign reported on Tuesday that it saw higher gift giving in fiscal year 2024 and is on track to meet its $7 billion goal by June 2026.
Christina Lee, Head Photography Editor
“For Humanity,” Yale’s largest fundraising campaign, has raised $5.8 billion out of its $7 billion goal by June 2026, according to a campaign report released Tuesday.
The figure represents a $0.8 billion gain since October 2023, when former University President Peter Salovey announced that he intended to push the campaign “as close to $6 billion as possible” before stepping down in June. The campaign, which launched in October 2021, also reported $746.3 million in gift commitments in the fiscal year that ended June 30, up from $648.5 million committed during fiscal year 2023.
“To date, we are on track to meet our 2026 campaign target,” Joan O’Neill, Vice President of Alumni Affairs and Development, wrote to the News. “That is in no small part the work of our many dedicated volunteers who have translated their love for Yale into support for its future.”
The campaign report comes in the first months of University President Maurie McInnis’ term, during which she has emphasized listening to members of the Yale community and advancing existing University initiatives.
“In my first several months as president, I have focused on listening to and engaging with the many members of our community on Yale’s campus,” McInnis wrote to the News. “I have begun to meet alumni, parents, and friends whose generosity and dedication fuel Yale’s teaching and research efforts and support our students and faculty through the For Humanity campaign.”
Salovey has previously stated that he planned to continue his involvement in the campaign by attending future campaign events and maintaining one-on-one relationships with donors.
Both McInnis and O’Neill expressed gratitude for Salovey’s continued support, with O’Neill noting that Salovey has “developed deep and meaningful relationships with our community over his many years at Yale.”
McInnis is also preparing to take on Salovey’s previous role in leading campaign events. Starting in January 2025, she will headline “For Humanity Illuminated,” the campaign’s fundraising event series. The campaign will hold five events through June 17 in cities such as New York, Chicago and London.
According to O’Neill, McInnis will be “actively supporting” campaign initiatives and “have a feature role in the program, highlighting the priorities of the campaign.”
One of the campaign’s priorities is funding scholarships and fellowships across Yale College and the graduate and professional schools. In April 2022, the campaign set a sub-goal of $1.2 billion for student financial aid and funding known as “Be the Key.” As of June, it has raised $935 million — 78 percent — toward that target, including $95.9 million donated in fiscal year 2024.
Out of the campaign’s total gift commitments of $756.3 million from fiscal year 2024, about half was donated by alumni. 32 percent of the total, or $242 million, was directed toward the Yale endowment and was further allocated toward scholarships, fellowships, professorships and research.
The first “For Humanity Illuminated” event of 2025 will take place in New York on Jan. 13, 2025.
Fabeha Jahra contributed reporting.