New University Campaign Will Help Students Shine
Fundraising initiative focused on financial aid will support students across Northwestern.
A first-of-its-kind fundraising effort at Northwestern seeks to ensure that the most promising students can access all the University has to offer, regardless of their financial means.
The Forever Shine Campaign, announced this spring, aims to raise at least $625 million for financial aid and enrichment programs that will benefit undergraduate, graduate and professional school students across all of Northwestern’s schools. The campaign, which takes its name from a line in the University’s “Alma Mater,” is Northwestern’s first University-wide fundraising campaign dedicated solely to supporting students.
“Scholarships have the power to change lives and are essential to the University’s continued success,” says Interim President and President Emeritus Henry S. Bienen ’09 H. “Our students are the future leaders of society, and we must give them every opportunity to shine at Northwestern and after they graduate.”
University Trustee Adam Karr ’93, who himself benefited from scholarships during his time as a first-generation college student, and his wife, Tonia, will co-chair the Forever Shine Campaign. The Karrs have generously supported financial aid across the University for more than 30 years. Scholarships they established at Northwestern have benefited 77 undergraduate students and counting. A transformative new gift from the Karrs will fund student scholarships and experiences, such as study abroad and summer internships.
Alma Mater, praise be thine,
May thy name forever shine!
Hail to Purple! Hail to White!
Hail to thee, Northwestern.
— Excerpt from “Alma Mater”
“Part of what makes this campaign so special is our commitment not just to access but also to success and belonging,” Karr says. “We’re investing in Beacon Scholars and other support programs so students can grow, thrive and fully participate in the Northwestern experience. This sets Northwestern apart, because it helps students make the most of every opportunity the University offers.” (Learn more about the Beacon Scholars program.)
The amount of financial aid Northwestern provides annually to undergraduate students has increased every year on record to meet the growing needs of admitted students. In the 2025–26 academic year, the University awarded more than $300 million in financial aid — a nearly 50% increase since 2019 — to over 4,000 undergraduate students.
Most undergraduate students whose families make under $150,000 per year attend the University tuition-free, and most students whose families earn less than $70,000 per year attend at no cost.
Financial aid also helps bring the most talented students to Northwestern’s graduate and professional schools and empowers them to pursue advanced degrees in fields they are passionate about.
“Expanding scholarship support is a core priority for the Law School because it allows us to welcome exceptional students who might not otherwise be able to attend,” says Zachary Clopton, dean of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. “These students go on to become future leaders who pursue critically important work and make Northwestern proud.”
Robust scholarship and fellowship packages enable the University to attract the strongest applicants, who are also heavily recruited by peer institutions.
“Graduate students are integral to Northwestern’s teaching and research excellence, and funding is essential to competing for the top candidates,” says Adrian Randolph, dean of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
The Northwestern community has already shown enthusiastic support for the Forever Shine Campaign. Among the lead donors are the campaign committee members: the Karrs; Trustee Du Chai ’94, ’01 MBA and Sarah Chai ’96, ’03 MBA; Trustee Valerie Friedman ’85 and Mark Friedman; Trustee Purnima Puri ’93 and Richard Barrera; and Keech Combe Shetty ’99, ’06 MBA and Akshay Shetty ’06 MBA.
“I urge alumni and friends to join these visionary leaders in championing financial aid and life-changing programs,” says Stacey Kostell, Northwestern’s vice president and dean of enrollment. “Your contributions will empower students to thrive today and for generations to come, as well as enrich our entire campus community by fostering a vibrant environment where everyone can excel.”
Visit giving.nu/ForeverShine to learn more about the Forever Shine Campaign or to make a gift.