Your Impact

Raising money enables Notre Dame to meet the standards of academic and research excellence set by the very best universities in the land. As the only religiously affiliated institution among the nation's leading universities, Notre Dame plays a pivotal role in shaping global conversations, influencing public policy, and nurturing the leaders of tomorrow.

Your support is vital to our mission, and here's why:

Tuition covers only about two-thirds of the cost of a Notre Dame undergraduate education.

Nearly half of our students rely on need-based aid, and thanks to our donors, we meet 100% of every family's demonstrated need. Your gift ensures that financial barriers do not prevent the brightest minds from receiving a Notre Dame education.

Nearly half of all Notre Dame undergraduates depend on need-based aid from the University.

Notre Dame is one of the few universities that meet 100 percent of every family's demonstrated need.

Notre Dame's endowment covers only about 23 percent of the University's budget, and most funds are restricted to specific purposes.

Though Notre Dame's endowment is not small, it is best measured against its mission. The amount of endowment spent each year (about 5.5 percent) is carefully calibrated to enable the funds to fulfill their purpose in perpetuity, and more than 75 percent of those funds are directed toward particular schools, departments, or programs. The University must fund more than two-thirds of its operating expenses from other sources, so annual, expendable gifts provide vital flexibility.

Federal funding has declined.

Federal support for university research is significant, but it has been declining for years in real dollars. The current budget environment makes such funding even more precarious.

Every gift makes a difference!

Most gifts made to Notre Dame are under $1,000. But together they add up to millions for financial aid, academics, research, and other programs.