Record Philanthropic Support Expands Opportunity at Northwestern Pritzker Law

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law concluded a record-setting year of philanthropic support in FY26, raising $18.3 million in new gifts and commitments and generating significant momentum to advance the school’s priorities. The results reflect the extraordinary commitment of alumni and friends and their growing enthusiasm for Northwestern Pritzker Law’s next chapter — momentum that has grown in Dean Zachary D. Clopton’s first year in the role.

“This year’s results are a powerful expression of confidence in Northwestern Pritzker Law and in the future we are building together,” Clopton said. “Our alumni and friends are investing in exceptional students, supporting our faculty, and helping the school prepare for the future of the legal profession. I am deeply grateful for their confidence, generosity, and partnership.”

Scholarships, a chief priority for Clopton, drove a substantial portion of the year’s philanthropy. Donors contributed $7.49 million in scholarship support and established 11 new funds, strengthening Northwestern Pritzker Law’s ability to attract talented students and ensure that financial circumstances do not limit their choices or ambitions.

More than 650 students across Northwestern Pritzker Law’s degree programs received financial aid during the year. Expanding that support is the purpose of Opening Doors, the school’s scholarship campaign and a defining priority for its future.

“Opening Doors is about ensuring that the most talented students can choose Northwestern Pritzker Law and pursue careers driven by their abilities and aspirations, rather than by the weight of financial need,” Clopton said. “The response from our community demonstrates how deeply our alumni and friends believe in that mission.”

Philanthropy also strengthened the faculty at the heart of the student experience. Donors committed $5.8 million in faculty support, including funding for two new endowed chairs.

“These investments in our faculty have a lasting impact on the intellectual life of Northwestern Pritzker Law,” Clopton said. “Endowed professorships enable us to attract and retain outstanding scholars and teachers while supporting the research and ideas that shape the legal profession and society. They are investments not just in individual faculty members, but in the strength of the school as a whole.”

The year also brought new records for Annual Fund support and major gifts. The Annual Fund raised $7.69 million, enabling Northwestern Pritzker Law to respond to its most urgent and strategic needs, while major gift fundraising included unprecedented investment from individual donors.

More than 2,385 alumni and friends contributed during the fiscal year, reflecting both the breadth of the community’s support and a shared belief in the school’s direction. Their participation ranged from annual gifts to transformational commitments, each strengthening the foundation for what comes next.

“For me, the most encouraging aspect of these results is the collective ambition they represent,” Clopton said. “Our community believes deeply in the school and in what we can accomplish together. This year gave us an extraordinary foundation, but it is only the beginning.”