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Making a Gift to Notre Dame

Parents have financially donated to, and supported the University of Notre Dame year after year. Your gift, no matter what amount, helps us preserve our traditions and advance our mission. Your gift matters to us.

"There is one thing that hasn't changed since I first stepped foot on campus, and that is how much the University depends on your contributions, large snd small. There is no such thing as an insignificant gift—every gift to Notre Dame is a great one, as far as I'm concerned."    

Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.

MAKE AN ANNUAL GIFT

Notre Dame's Annual Giving Programs help support the University’s mission through the generosity of donors year after year. The difference between income from tuition dollars and the rising costs of higher education necessitates raising close to $40 million dollars each year. The Annual fund is a key source of expendable support that impacts virtually everything under the Dome.  Gifts to the Annual Fund:
  • Advance our Catholic mission
  • Provide financial aid
  • Enhance academic and student life
  • Further our global service efforts
  • Support our areas of greatest need

Student phone center callers

Our student callers take the time each year to contact our parents in the hopes of raising the dollars needed to benefit the students and the University. When you receive a call from the phone center, know that these students are hard at work helping to advance the mission of the University of Notre Dame through the generosity of parents like you.

RECOGNITION SOCIETIES

Becoming a member of one of Notre Dame’s recognition societies acknowledges you as a donor to the annual fund within a more specific arena.

  • The Sorin Society—Notre Dame's oldest giving society recognizing donors who make an annual gift in the range of $1,500 - $25,000.  Membership at the Traditional ($1,500), Founders Circle ($5,000), and Legacy ($10,000) levels of giving.
  • The President's Circle - Members of the President's Circle, through gifts of $25,000 or more, stand side-by-side with President Father John Jenkins in advancing strategic priorities and fulfilling critical needs in support of Notre Dame's mission to seek God, study the world, and serve humanity.
  • Cavanaugh Council of the President's Circle - Members of the Cavanaugh Council of the President's Circle support core aspects of the University and advance strategic initiatives intended to help Notre Dame, its faculty, and its students through the generosity and commitment of annual gifts of $50,000 or more.              
  • The John Cardinal OHara Society—Supports the MBA and the EMBA programs in the Mendoza College of Business. Recognizes alumni and friends at the Traditional ($1,500) and Dean’s Circle ($5,000) levels.
  • The Order of St. Thomas More—Supports the Law School and recognizes donors at the Traditional($1,500) and Dean’s Circle ($5,000) levels of giving.
  • The Rockne Heritage Fund Director's Circle —Supports our student-athletes throughout the University with financial aid and operational expenses. Recognizes alumni, parents, friends, students and staff at the Traditional ($1,500) and Irish Legends ($5,000 and $10,000) levels.
  • The Corby Society—Offers young alumni the opportunity to support the funding of academic and student life initiatives at a level commensurate with young graduates. 
  • The Badin Guild—Offers alumni, parents, and friends the opportunity to ensure that resources will be available to support Notre Dame into the future through thoughtful estate planning and deferred giving.  Named in honor of Fr. Stephen Badin who made the first planned benefaction to Notre Dame, donors are recognized for their generosity and devotion through their support of the University with a bequest, trust, annuity, or other planned gift.

LEADERSHIP GIVING

Consider the following to make a leadership gift ($100,000 or more) to the University of Notre Dame:

  • Arts advancement
  • Law advancement
  • Athletics
  • Joyce Grant-in-Aid
  • Endowed scholarships or Fellowships
  • Corporate and foundation relations
  • Naming opportunities
  • Gift planning
  • Matching gifts
  • Other ways to give 

SupportingND provides information on areas of opportunity and ways you can make a gift to Notre Dame.

For more information or to answer your questions, call the Development Office at 574-631-7164.