Northeastern University secured $81.79 million in fundraising during the 2014-15 academic year, far exceeding its goal and marking the highest single-year giving total in its history.

The entire Northeastern community worldwide—from students, faculty, and staff to alumni, friends, and university partners—contributed to the remarkable overall giving. Further propelling this momentum in recent years has been the strong support of Northeastern parents and the university’s global partners, from whom commitments have grown rapidly since 2008.

“The unprecedented success at Northeastern today belongs to everyone—our alumni, students, faculty, parents, staff, governing boards, and friends around the world,” said President Joseph E. Aoun. “This record-breaking year shows how a strategic vision is empowered by a global community.

The record-breaking fundraising year—which topped the previous record of $81.55 million set during the 2012-13 academic year—is powered by the success of Empower: The Campaign for Northeastern University.

The university’s Empower campaign, which publicly launched in May 2013, is a comprehensive fundraising drive to secure $1 billion in support of students, faculty, and research innovation. The campaign will shape the future of teaching, learning, and discovery at Northeastern; amplify the university’s strengths in creativity and entrepreneurship; and redefine its leadership on a global scale.

The unprecedented campaign aims to raise $500 million in philanthropic support and $500 million through industry and government partnerships by 2017, supporting programs that will advance the university’s educational and research enterprise for generations.

The unprecedented success at Northeastern today belongs to everyone—our alumni, students, faculty, parents, staff, governing boards, and friends around the world.
— President Joseph E. Aoun

More than 86,000 individual donors and 3,200 organizations have supported the Empower campaign. Gifts have targeted an array of university programs and priorities, including financial aid, research, innovation, and global experiential learning.

What’s more, nationally renowned foundations are also increasing their support for academic endeavors at Northeastern. These include a $1.5 million award from the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Foundation to establish the Doherty Chair in Marine and Environmental Sciences in the College of Science; a $1 million award from the W.M. Keck Foundation for research by professor Nian Sun and assistant professor Matteo Rinaldi in the College of Engineering; and a $500,000 award from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support research led by professor David Smith in the College of Computer and Information Science.

“Northeastern’s record year will serve as a catalyst for more exciting opportunities and challenges to come,” said Diane MacGillivray, senior vice president for University Advancement. “With the backing of our amazing donors and partners, the university is more than up for the task.”

Northeastern has connected with thousands of members of the university community through the Empower campaign, including at events last year in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Washington, D.C., and Fort Myers, Florida. In November, Northeastern will host an Empower event in Philadelphia. Guests at these events experience the future of Northeastern through interactive exhibits showcasing the innovation, entrepreneurship, and research of the university’s outstanding students, faculty, and alumni.