Together, we defy gravity.
In a world searching for positive change, U of T is leading the way to a better future.
Inspired by U of T’s fundamental commitment to inclusive excellence, Defy Gravity: The Campaign for the University of Toronto is bringing together the university’s global community to create life-changing opportunities for brilliant students and scholars from every background and experience and helping find innovative solutions to the challenges clouding our future.
Thanks to our generous supporters, the campaign is already achieving remarkable milestones: we’ve reached 75% of our alumni engagement goal and raised more than 50% of our $4-billion target to advance the university’s highest priorities. Read the story.
Campaign highlights
Defy Gravity is the most comprehensive campaign in Canadian university history—and for the first time ever, we’ve made alumni engagement a central feature.
170283 engaged alumni 75% toward a goal of 225,000
We’re working to inspire more alumni than ever before to get involved in meaningful ways. Engaged alumni contribute to every aspect of U of T’s mission, enabling students to achieve their dreams.
771870 instances of alumni engagement 77% toward a goal of 1,000,000
We’re encouraging alumni to contribute their time and talent one million times collectively. From mentoring students to raising our global profile, every single act of alumni engagement helps shape U of T’s future.
$ 2.054 billion in funds raised 51% toward a goal of $4 billion
The funds we’re raising support the university’s highest priorities, creating life-changing opportunities for brilliant students and scholars to develop solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.
Supporting student success
“The Academic Bridging Program was my ticket into the university and to a new life.”
After sustaining a spinal cord injury, Beau Hayward was able to pursue a degree in the Faculty of Arts and Science thanks to U of T’s academic bridging program and donor support. He’s now studying for his master’s in history.
“As I work to bring about meaningful change, I’m grateful for donors who support my goal of creating a more equitable society.”
Shezadi Khushal always dreamed of pursuing a PhD, and now she’s doing it at OISE. She hopes to create positive change in education by researching the impact of policy on racialized students.
“This scholarship helps me believe that the change I bring to the world will make a difference.”
Through her master’s at the Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work, Favour Aina is analyzing what causes second-generation immigrants, and Black men in particular, to be overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
“As someone who has loved music since I was a kid, I am so thankful for the opportunity to enrich my musical experience at U of T.”
Tony Bali is a talented guitarist working toward a master’s in jazz performance at the Faculty of Music, with plans to pursue a PhD. Donor support allowed him to study in France with one of his musical idols.
“Health care is so pivotal in people’s lives, and I want to be there for them when they need it. U of T has helped me learn this.”
After arriving in Canada as a refugee and working as an ER nurse, Shakila Khalkhali Ardestani is now pursuing her master’s at Bloomberg Nursing. Her goal is to provide a safe space for newcomers in a more equitable health-care system.
“Knowing that my research can make a meaningful impact on maternal health is fulfilling and motivating.”
At the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Luis Armando Pérez Dávalos is developing a treatment for pre-eclampsia using lipid nanoparticles, which he hopes will prevent many maternal and fetal complications.
“Donor support is giving me the opportunity to help create a more sustainable future.”
As an environmental science student in the Faculty of Arts and Science, Alice Lo wants to make the world a better place through animal conservation and the protection of endangered species.
“The Academic Bridging Program was my ticket into the university and to a new life.”
After sustaining a spinal cord injury, Beau Hayward was able to pursue a degree in the Faculty of Arts and Science thanks to U of T’s academic bridging program and donor support. He’s now studying for his master’s in history.
“As I work to bring about meaningful change, I’m grateful for donors who support my goal of creating a more equitable society.”
Shezadi Khushal always dreamed of pursuing a PhD, and now she’s doing it at OISE. She hopes to create positive change in education by researching the impact of policy on racialized students.
“This scholarship helps me believe that the change I bring to the world will make a difference.”
Through her master’s at the Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work, Favour Aina is analyzing what causes second-generation immigrants, and Black men in particular, to be overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
“As someone who has loved music since I was a kid, I am so thankful for the opportunity to enrich my musical experience at U of T.”
Tony Bali is a talented guitarist working toward a master’s in jazz performance at the Faculty of Music, with plans to pursue a PhD. Donor support allowed him to study in France with one of his musical idols.
“Health care is so pivotal in people’s lives, and I want to be there for them when they need it. U of T has helped me learn this.”
After arriving in Canada as a refugee and working as an ER nurse, Shakila Khalkhali Ardestani is now pursuing her master’s at Bloomberg Nursing. Her goal is to provide a safe space for newcomers in a more equitable health-care system.
“Knowing that my research can make a meaningful impact on maternal health is fulfilling and motivating.”
At the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Luis Armando Pérez Dávalos is developing a treatment for pre-eclampsia using lipid nanoparticles, which he hopes will prevent many maternal and fetal complications.
“Donor support is giving me the opportunity to help create a more sustainable future.”
As an environmental science student in the Faculty of Arts and Science, Alice Lo wants to make the world a better place through animal conservation and the protection of endangered species.
