The University of New Haven has secured more than $100 million in philanthropic support over the past 30 months, marking an extraordinary period of growth. The milestone follows a record fiscal year 2026, when the university raised $32 million in commitments, more than doubling total commitments since 2024.
Powered by the bold vision for the university created by President Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., this historic surge in philanthropy signals growing confidence among alumni, corporate partners, and supporters worldwide in the university’s ability to deliver lasting value for students, employers, and society as a whole. The investment fuels a clear promise to prepare students for successful, demand-driven careers and launch graduates who are prepared not merely to enter the workforce, but to lead it. This is the university’s vision to develop graduates who are “Better Than Ready.”
“Our fundraising success reflects a growing recognition that higher education has reached a defining moment,” said President Frederiksen. “Our partners share our conviction that universities must deliver greater value, expand access, and produce outcomes that ensure students develop skills, gain experience, build networks, and gain confidence to establish careers in high-demand fields. We are grateful to each donor who is accelerating our progress and helping us build a model for the future of higher education.”
Philanthropic investments are accelerating transformative initiatives across the university, including a new on-campus home for the Pompea College of Business, an innovative internship signing bonus program, and scholarships for Afghan women.
Donors are also supporting the development of new outreach initiatives through the Jensen Center for Applied Justice – an integrated, trauma-informed hub delivering programs in combating human trafficking, youth justice, public health, violence prevention, and community-based policing – as well as powering the creation of The Elevation Center, where students, faculty, and industry partners will turn real-world ideas into marketplace solutions.
In addition, philanthropy is powering the university’s transition to Division I athletics and supporting the launch this fall of the first U.S. international branch campus in Saudi Arabia.
Together, these investments are strengthening career readiness, driving innovation, and elevating the university’s national and global impact.
Brian Otis, vice president for university advancement, said the fundraising results demonstrate what a clear institutional vision can achieve when donors can see measurable impact.
“Donors are investing in a university that is unapologetically focused on impact,” Otis said. “They see their support creating opportunity, expanding access to education, and helping students succeed. The ever-evolving landscape of higher education requires us to focus our efforts on cultivating support that is immediate and that will accelerate our mission of implementing bold ideas that connect higher education more closely with industry and the workforce of the future.”
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