Vanderbilt announced on Nov. 11, 2024 that its Dare to Grow fundraising campaign had reached its $3.2 billion goal 20 months ahead of schedule. The fund supports students through various operations, including Opportunity Vanderbilt, graduate scholarships, faculty research and endowments, strategic projects — such as Dialogue Vanderbilt — and athletics.
Announced in March 2023, the Dare to Grow campaign was originally expected to reach its goal in June 2026. The name comes from an English translation of Vanderbilt’s Latin motto, “Crescere aude.” The campaign’s three principal pathways — Destination Vanderbilt, Discovery Vanderbilt and One Vanderbilt — aim to progress key initiatives, including new programs such as the Institute of National Security, the College of Connected Computing, research initiatives and the university’s future campuses in New York City and West Palm Beach, among others.
According to Vanderbilt News, two large contributors to the fundraising campaign were the 2023 and 2024 Reunion and Homecoming weekends — which raised $42.7 million and $67 million, respectively.
In an interview with The Hustler, Chancellor Diermeier emphasized the essential role that the Vanderbilt community’s belief in the university played in making this campaign successful.
“I think people are excited about where Vanderbilt is going. They want to support our students, [and] they want to support our faculty. That is reflected in the success of the campaign,” Diermeier said. “This was a very ambitious goal, by far the largest campaign goal in our history, and the fact that we were able to reach the goal 20 months earlier [than intended] is a testament that our community of alums, parents and philanthropic supporters want to be part of Vanderbilt’s journey and want to support it.”
John M. Lutz, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations, reiterated Diermeier’s message regarding the importance of community involvement in fundraising efforts.
“Since the public launch of Dare to Grow, nearly 100,000 alumni have answered our call to ‘Give, Go, Help, Share,” Lutz said in an email to The Hustler. “From providing mentorship and career advice to students, to sharing stories from their own Vanderbilt experiences, to attending events — our community’s widespread engagement has been central to Dare to Grow’s success thus far and will continue to drive progress through the campaign’s close in June 2026.”
Lutz clarified that the university’s goal for the Dare to Grow campaign is centered around community impact and support.
“It’s about directly impacting more Vanderbilt students and community members in more ways — whether through funding additional scholarships and Immersion Vanderbilt opportunities, enriching the student-athlete experience, supporting the faculty who mentor you, [developing] the buildings that shape your learning or the programs that inspire your passions,” Lutz said.
A representative from the Development and Alumni Relations team explained that donors have the opportunity to direct their support to a particular area, school or program.
“This helps donors to deepen their engagement and, in many cases, pay forward the support they have received throughout their own Vanderbilt journeys, educations and careers,” the representative said. “Ultimately, this all helps to fuel what we call the positive ripple effect of philanthropy.”
The DAR representative also said many campaign gifts are endowments, which they believe provide long term sustainability and a permanent source of support for the university’s students, faculty and programs.
“As of June 30, 2024, the market value of Vanderbilt’s endowment was $10.2 billion,” the representative said. “This includes more than 3,300 individual funds with unique restrictions and designations. These assets are pooled and invested collectively.”
Steven Madden, co-chair of the campaign and university trustee, reflected on the campaign’s broader significance.
“By investing in Vanderbilt, we are investing in the future — the next wave of leaders, of scientific breakthroughs, of critical conversations, of solutions to society’s problems,” Madden said. “That’s what daring to grow is about, and there’s still time for all of us to be a part of it.”
Student reactions
Sophomore Beatriz Antunes reflected on how research opportunities and student organizations at Vanderbilt have already helped to further her learning.
“The Dare to Grow campaign strives to provide other students with the opportunity to partake in similar experiences,” Antunes said. “I am proud of Vanderbilt’s recent fundraising accomplishments and hope these funds continue to enhance the Vanderbilt experience.”
Senior Hananeel Morinville, president of Vanderbilt Student Government, shared her reaction to the successful campaign.
“Reaching the $3.2 billion goal 20 months in advance is incredible! I’m excited to see what’s next!” Morinville said in an email to The Hustler.
Sophomore Eden Teo expressed excitement about the potential expanded research opportunities and scholarship accessibility for low income households that could result from this funding.
“I’m curious to see if [the scholarship accessibility] will result in a demographic change of the Vanderbilt population,” Teo said. “I would also like to see how the New York and Florida locations would benefit opportunities for undergraduates.”
