MIT launches “Campaign for a Better World” to raise $5 billion

MIT wants to use the money to address issue like clean energy, food, and aiding illnesses (Photo via MIT)

MIT is known around the world as one of the top universities in America. Thanks to their field of research, they're always on the cusp of the latest technological innovations. But in order to work on projects like the CityCar or The EyeRing, the institute needs money. And a lot of it. MIT recently launched a new fundraising initiative called “Campaign for a Better World,” which aims to take on some of humanity's and the planet's biggest challenges. So how much are they asking for? Just a whopping five billion dollars.

The campaign is meant to amplify the universities' fields in research, education, and innovation. That's no small sum of money, but the institute has a list of various projects under the campaign's six priority areas. The areas include Discovery Science, Heath of the Planet, Human Health, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Teaching, Learning, and Living, and The MIT Core. Some of the issues they're hoping to take on include climate change, making clean energy universal, clean water and food, the ability to detect diseases early on, such as Alzheimer's to name a few. There are even plans to manipulate genes using CRISPR-Cas9.

The money also goes towards increasing resources for undergraduate financial aid, graduate fellowships and professorships, and improving educational spaces. “Humanity faces urgent challenges—challenges whose solutions depend on marrying advanced technical and scientific capabilities with a deep understanding of the world’s political, cultural, and economic complexities,” said MIT president L. Rafael Reif. 

He continues: “We launch the Campaign for a Better World to rise to those challenges and accelerate positive change. In this effort, we seek the support of enthusiastic partners who share our sense of mission and infinite possibility—including our remarkable alumni, who do the great work of MIT in the world every day. Together, through this Campaign, we will give the brilliant minds and hands of the MIT community the fuel and the focus to make inspiring progress for the world.”

MIT hopes the campaign will have “far-reaching positive implications” not just for the university, but for the world at large. It is an opportunity to re-inspire, reenergize, and recommit the MIT community to our shared vision and values,” says char of MIT Corporation Robert B. Millard. “While amplifying the power of our students, faculty, and staff to shape the future by providing them with the resources they need to do their best work.”

So far, the campaign has raised over $2.6 billion toward their goal. Many of the donations have come from more than 77,000 alumni and friends. They're in the right ballpark, but there's still a way to go, so if you're feeling inclined to help, donate any amount you can. Let's just hope MIT keeps their end of the bargain and actually does something good with that money.  Want to help? Check out MIT's Campaign for a Better World

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