Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University Raises $1B to Further Academic Excellence and Student Success for Generations to Come

Less than 20 months after the public launch of a historic giving campaign with the ambitious goal of raising $1.5 billion, Syracuse University today announced it has reached the $1 billion milestone. The funds raised as part of Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University will fuel research, faculty recruitment, world-class teaching and learning, expanded financial aid and immersion programs, a powerhouse athletics program, entrepreneurship, innovation and more for generations to come.

“I am inspired by the countless ways that the Orange community cares for one another and for the future of Syracuse University,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “The generosity of our alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and friends, even during the most uncertain of times in a global pandemic, continues to light the way toward the future of this institution.”

Forever Orange is built on three foundational pillars: ensuring philanthropic support for an unsurpassed student experience; advancing academic excellence; and providing unique learning opportunities. To date, the campaign has:

• Allocated $115.5 million to student financial aid and another $135 million to research funding;
• Created nearly 500 new scholarships, dramatically increasing the amount of financial support available to our students; and
• Established upwards of 65 new funds to support faculty research—including 10 new endowed chairs and professorships—helping to advance and protect Syracuse’s status as a top-tier international research university.

“When we launched Forever Orange, no one could have anticipated that we’d find ourselves, just a few short months later, in the midst of a global pandemic,” says Kathy Walters ’73, chair of the Board of Trustees. “As we reach this significant milestone, we look back with celebration and appreciation of the incredible tenacity of the Orange family. We express our gratitude for every single gift, of any size. And we look forward to continuing this momentum, inviting others to join our campaign to support promising futures, helping every Syracuse student to identify their passions and make their mark on the world.”

The campaign has adapted to the emerging needs of 2020 and 2021, with $1.8 million raised for the Syracuse Responds COVID-19 relief effort, providing immediate financial support to students during the pandemic for various needs related to travel, food, shelter and their ability to continue their studies with minimal disruption. Another $4.6 million has been contributed to advance the University’s diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives.

“Forever Orange is positioning us for success today and for generations to come, and we’re already seeing those results. The campaign’s momentum has helped us meet challenges put forth by the pandemic and to emerge more adaptable and resilient than ever before,” says Mike Thonis, Syracuse University Trustee and campaign tri-chair. “This campaign is opening up our University community to new possibilities, enabling us to better anticipate what’s next, and providing students and faculty with the facilities and resources they need to pursue their dreams.”

When it comes to the physical environment, the Forever Orange campaign has built or transformed numerous campus facilities that play a pivotal role in the student experience, including the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center, renovations to the Syracuse University stadium, the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building and the Barnes Center at The Arch.

Matt Ter Molen, senior vice president and chief advancement officer, says that reaching the billion-dollar campaign milestone is a point of pride for the entire Syracuse community. “We should be proud, not just of the dollars, but of what the dollars can accomplish,” he says. “Campaigns are just a means to an end—and that end is a better, stronger, more diverse Syracuse University. When you look at the number of lives impacted by this campaign so far, it demonstrates what all of us who are Forever Orange can accomplish when we come together.”

A key goal of the campaign is to inspire 125,000 unique donors to give and engage 20% of Syracuse University alumni. So far, 88,482 individuals have made a gift and 15% of degreed alumni are actively engaged with the University. “If the campaign were a hockey game, we’d be heading into the third period,” Ter Molen says. “Every single donor has played a role in achieving our vision to impact lives and improve our world. Now, we strive ahead toward our $1.5 billion goal and look forward to reaching new heights together, as a community.”

To learn more about the campaign, its goals, potential impact, funding priorities and how to get involved, visit foreverorange.syr.edu. There are two easy ways to give:

• Contact the Office of Development at 315.443.1848 or by email at giving@syr.edu.
• Make a gift by visiting foreverorange.syr.edu.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University is poised to do just that. Fueled by 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit foreverorange.syr.edu to learn more.