Shared Commitment

Thank you for sharing in the campus-wide commitment to steward Notre Dame’s generous benefactors. The University promises to report the impact of donor funds annually. To fulfill this promise, the Stewardship & Donor Relations team coordinates and sends annual reports demonstrating that the University has spent donated funds in a way that aligns with the stipulations of the gift. In the fall of 2025, a total of 9,123 reports were sent to 4,077 individual households and organizations. These reports include financial summaries and impact statements on how the gifts were spent over the past year. 

This is where we need your help...

As the campus partner entrusted with managing these funds, we look to you to share how they were spent and what impact they had. One colleague per fund has already been identified to submit the impact statements; these selected colleagues will be given licenses to Ascend (Development's database). Here is the process:

1. Ascend license holders identify partners within their division who need to be included in the impact reporting process

2. These partners collaborate as a team to gather information about how the funds were spent and the impact of this spending

3. In partnership, impact statements are drafted that clearly articulate the fund's impact over the past year

4. Ascend license holders enter and submit impact statements by Wednesday, July 15

5. The Stewardship team processes the submitted statements and prepares the reports

Excellent Stewardship Leads to Additional Philanthropy

Annual endowment and impact reports do much more than fulfill the University's promise to communicate the impact of donated funds; they also build goodwill with benefactors who have made our research, teaching, and other core activities possible. Reports nurture existing donor relationships, lead to expanded philanthropy, and build a Notre Dame reputation for superb stewardship that may ultimately help expand our current donor base.  

Your partnership is appreciated. Have questions? Check out our FAQs or contact a member of the Stewardship team.