The Time is Now
Become an agent of change
These stories reflect the heart of FIU and philanthropy: The people empowered and inspired daily through giving.
FIU Foundation is honored to work with our donors to help students, faculty, staff and alumni achieve their potential as agents of change.
Support from our donors facilitates academic excellence, student-centered learning and the interdisciplinary synergy needed to ensure that FIU remains globally competitive. Your generous gifts make an impact, helping us to reach the next horizon of FIU. Your investments allow us to excel, dream, engage and transform lives through the power of philanthropy.
FIU’s donors are creating their own FIU story. Read those stories here, and then visit our archives for more.
FIU Points of Pride
#1 Social Mobility
National Universities, U.S. News & World Report, 2025
Carnegie R1 University
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education ranked FIU R1: Doctoral Universities
# 1 Public University
Best Student Experience, The Wall Street Journal, 2025
#46 Public University
Top 50 Public Rankings, U.S. News & World Report, 2025
#3 Public University
Washington Monthly, 2024
Top 15
Most Innovative Public Universities U.S. News & World Report, 2025
The Power of Philanthropy
In 1970 FIU was a promise – a university in-the-making. Today, fueled by the power of philanthropy, we are making a tangible impact on the national higher education landscape with over 180,000 graduates.
Over the past five years, FIU has grown by nearly 10,000 students but lost $72 million in state funding. Today, more than ever before, our donors make a difference – providing critical funding as we transition from a state-supported to state-assisted institution.
In partnership with our donors, we foster student-centered academic excellence and develop research-based solutions to critical challenges locally and globally.
Building a new university
1970 the founding president of FIU, Chuck Perry, sent the following letter to prospective donors, in preparation for the University’s opening in September 1972:
We believe that our rare opportunity to build a new university for the future gives us awesome responsibilities: the most important to create a university truly responsive to the needs of society. To build this kind of institution, we recognize that private funds must be obtained to supplement state support.
With this in mind, we are inviting a selected number of community leaders to become “Founders” of the university. We hope you will join in this effort.
On May 1, 1970 the FIU Foundation received its first donation of $500.
More than four decades later, FIU aspires to increase its endowment to $300 million by the year 2025. Realizing this vision will depend on the generosity of donors who share our commitment to Worlds Ahead excellence and support our Next Horizon campaign.
FIU Points of Pride
10
Among the 10 largest public research universities in the nation
12
Colleges & schools
190
Programs
Inspiration and Impact
Each gift to FIU, no matter the size, empowers our community to transform the future of South Florida and beyond.
Your support enriches our students, faculty, staff, and community by providing the resources needed to realize our Worlds Ahead vision.
These stories reflect the heart of FIU: the people impacted and inspired daily by your generosity. University Advancement is honored to work with our donors to help students, faculty, staff, and alumni achieve their potential as agents of change.
Your generous gifts make an impact, helping us write the next chapter of FIU’s future. Your gifts inspire us to excel, dream, engage, and transform lives through the power of philanthropy.
"FIU has been my home for more than 40 years. When I support the university through financial donations, I am only returning a small portion of the benefits the university has given me and my family."Darden Pyron, Professor of History, Founding Professor of FIU’s College of Arts & Sciences, Senior Honors Fellow