University of Alabama completes record $2.1 billion fundraising campaign

The University of Alabama has concluded its decade-long Rising Tide 2.0 capital campaign, raising more than $2.1 billion in charitable commitments. This total marks the most successful higher education fundraising effort in Alabama history, significantly exceeding the campaign’s previous goals of $1.5 billion and $1.8 billion.

Since the campaign launched in 2016, the university has reported a 37 percent increase in endowed scholarship funds and a 38 percent increase in the number of students receiving such scholarships. The donations have funded 1,212 new scholarship endowments, 84 new faculty endowments, and over 800,000 square feet of new or renovated facilities.

Major contributions included a $35 million gift from alumnus Frank Barefield, which led to the naming of the J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences, and a $25 million gift from Catherine Styslinger, resulting in the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering.