The University of Maryland (UMD) announced on November 3, 2025 its largest fundraising initiative to date, a $2.5 billion campaign designed to drive innovation, expand educational access, and strengthen community engagement.
Titled Forward: The University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless, the initiative marks a new chapter for the institution as it aims to solidify its position among the world’s leading research universities.
“The Forward campaign is a turning point,” said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. “It will change the conditions through which our students, faculty, and staff are able to reach their goals, achieve their dreams, and make a positive impact in the world.”
The campaign centers on three pillars: Tomorrow’s Trailblazers, focused on access to education and workforce readiness; Bold and Brave Solutions, which supports breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, quantum science, and biotechnology; and Stronger Communities, emphasizing civic engagement and university pride through arts, athletics, and outreach.
Since its quiet launch in November 2021, the campaign has already secured $943 million in contributions. Major donors include the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, civil engineering alumnus Stanley Zupnik, mathematics Professor Emeritus Michael Brin and the Sergey Brin Family Foundation, Professor Anne Simon, and sports marketing executive Steve Schanwald.
The Forward campaign builds on the momentum of Fearless Ideas: The Campaign for Maryland, which raised more than $1.5 billion. It also aligns with UMD’s 2022 strategic plan, underscoring the university’s long-term goal of fostering research excellence and social impact.
“This campaign is about building a future as bold as the dreams that walk this campus daily,” said Campaign Co-chair Jimmy Reyes. “It’s about the fearless spirit that defines Maryland in every area of study.”
Through Forward, the University of Maryland reaffirms its mission to advance knowledge, empower communities, and inspire a new generation of changemakers.
