$1.1 Billion and Counting
Baylor alumni, parents and friends gathered together Feb. 3 at Atlanta’s Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in a celebration of gifts to the Give Light campaign surpassing $1.1 billion, the initial fundraising goal. The Give Light campaign is now the largest and most successful fundraising effort in the University’s 177-year history, as it continues to raise funds in support of Illuminate, the University’s strategic plan.
“Today, we mark the surpassing of the Give Light campaign’s initial goal of raising $1.1 billion to support the mission and vision of Baylor University — a milestone that is only possible because of the generosity of our Baylor Family,” President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., said. “More than 80,000 alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, friends, foundations and corporations have given to Baylor to foster academic discovery, to grow our programs and outreach and to stand beside our students through scholarships. It has been heartening to see the Baylor Family support the University’s growth to become a preeminent Christian research university, strengthening the voice of Christian higher education. As we realize these significant steps forward, we are grateful anew for their commitment to our Christian mission. This is a milestone that we can all celebrate.”
The Give Light campaign was publicly launched Nov. 1, 2018, as a comprehensive campaign to fund the academic aspirations and infrastructure needs for the University’s future as Baylor pursued preeminence as a Christian research university.
In December 2021, Baylor announced it had been named a Research 1 university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, one of only 39 private institutions to be named. The R1 classification as a doctoral university with “very high research activity” elevates Baylor among the nation’s top research universities.
Fundraising for the priorities of Illuminate continues through the Give Light campaign. Faculty endowment remains a priority through the Illuminate Chair Matching Program and scholarship support continues to be a priority with emphasis on merit and need scholarships through the Hord Scholarship Challenge and the Trailblazer Scholars Program. Baylor also continues to seek support for the Give Light Capital Fund to support capital projects like the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion, the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center and the Fudge Football Development Center.
“The Give Light campaign has highlighted the incredible generosity of our Baylor Family,” Vice President for Advancement David Rosselli, A.B.C. ’17, said. “It is humbling to work at an institution where the alumni, parents and friends believe so deeply in the Christian mission and bold vision of this institution for becoming an even stronger voice in Christian higher education. We have further to go, but we are encouraged and propelled forward by their generosity. Baylor truly has a bright future, and it is being shaped by the giving of our Baylor Family.”