Fairfield University Celebrates Historic Capital Campaign | Press Releases

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (October 1, 2018)—"Fairfield Rising,” Fairfield’s largest and most successful comprehensive capital campaign raised close to $218 million, surpassing its original goal by nearly $60 million.

“This is an historic moment for Fairfield University that has been made possible by the exceptional generosity of this passionate community that believes now, more than ever, in Fairfield’s growth and rise as a national leader in higher education,” said President Mark R. Nemec, PhD. “Our benefactors and alumni have made a significant impact on our students, our faculty and our staff — with new world-class facilities, significant support for financial aid, scholarship and research, and significant enhancements to our academic programs.”

According to Fairfield’s vice president for University Advancement Wally Halas, the campaign officially concluded in July 2018. “The success of the campaign isn’t just measured by dollars, but also by the overwhelming support of the entire Fairfield community," Halas said. "Nearly 11,000 donors were inspired to make their first-ever gift during the campaign and 61 donors gave a first-time gift of $25,000 or more.” The great momentum of the campaign allowed for increasing the original goal of $160 million to $210 million last year.

Since the campaign’s launch into the public phase in the fall of 2015, a series of catalyst gifts from prominent alumni encouraged a new level of leadership giving — 39 alumni and friends have made campaign gifts at and above seven-figures.

"Together, every donor who contributed had a direct impact on the achievement of an exceptional vision. And, in doing so, the bar for what will become possible in our future has clearly risen even higher," Halas continued. "With tremendous investment in academics, newly available scholarship resources, enhanced student life, competitive athletics, and essential giving to the Fairfield Fund, a renewed sense of purpose has been instilled in our supporters for their vital role in Fairfield’s past, present, and vibrant future."

With more than 23,271 supporters to thank for the success of Fairfield Rising , the University recently took its mascot Lucas the Stag on the road for a celebratory New York City Tour including visits with alumni at ESPN, UBS, MSG, Indeed.com, and Fairfield University Night at Yankee Stadium. A portion of every ticket sold through the Fairfield University group was allocated to benefit The Fairfield Fund .

On the heels of the campaign’s close, Fairfield University ranked #1 Best Regional University in the North ranking by 2019 U.S. News & World’s Best Colleges Report . Fairfield rose from the number three spot last year, signifying its continued upward trajectory. In addition to being recognized for its overall quality, Fairfield also placed in the top five in the “Most Innovative Schools” category for the region.

Beyond the U.S. News’ rankings, The Princeton Review, Forbes, Time’s Money magazine and The Wall Street Journal /Times Higher Education, named Fairfield among the best schools in the nation.

Top 100 Private Universities in the nation
Top 10 “Most Transformative Universities”
Among the best in the Northeastern region
Top 10 for "Best Quality of Life"
Top 20 for "Happiest Students"
One of the "Colleges That Pay You Back"
Among Forbes’ America’s Top Colleges
Top 20% by Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education 2019 U.S. College Rankings
Top 50 private nonprofit “Colleges with the Greatest Research-and-Development Spending in the Humanities”

“We know that Fairfield is a special university, internationally recognized as an institution ‘on the rise,’” Dr. Nemec continued. “Fairfield is rising to meet the challenges of the age and to become the modern, Jesuit and Catholic University for our time.”

Learn more about the Fairfield Rising campaign .