About Defy Gravity: The Campaign for the University of Toronto
The largest university campaign in Canadian history is harnessing the power of our worldwide community, including more than 700,000 alumni, 99,000 students, and 26,000 faculty and staff, for the betterment of humanity.
From pioneering work in the humanities to the breakthrough development of neural networks, the University of Toronto has a long history of tackling the impossible and transforming society through the ingenuity of its faculty, students and alumni.
In a world searching for positive change, we are building on this tradition to address some of the biggest challenges facing our city, country and planet as we grapple with this age of climate change, inequality and mass technological disruption.
Through our commitment to inclusive excellence, we are bringing together top minds from every conceivable background and discipline to enable healthy lives, build inclusive cities and societies, create a sustainable future, spark creativity and culture, drive scientific discovery, power bold innovation and entrepreneurship, and support student success as we educate the next generation of creative, engaged and empathic citizens.
The campaign theme, Defy Gravity, reflects U of T’s history of advancing the frontiers of knowledge by transcending disciplines and borders in a diverse and inclusive community that emboldens students to think big—a community that accomplishes things no one else believed possible.
The campaign is already making a significant impact, thanks to the incredible support of engaged alumni and generous donors. Alumni have stepped up in record numbers to mentor students, build professional networks and expand U of T’s global partnerships, driving the university’s mission forward. Many alumni and friends have also helped fund cutting-edge research, life-changing scholarships and state-of-the-art facilities, empowering our best minds to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has played a part so far. The unwavering commitment of our alumni and supporters is setting new records and breaking new ground. As we continue to build momentum, we are excited to work together to Defy Gravity and reach even greater heights in the years ahead.
