December 31, 2023 marked the end of Ʒ鶹’s Take the Lead Campaign. The original goal was $110 million and results show that the final tally was 11% higher – raising more than $122.3 million in gifts and commitments. The campaign realized great gains in the areas of student financial aid and scholarships, student support programs and .
“A constant throughout the campaign was hearing about the affection that hundreds of people – students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends – have for Ʒ鶹. People who benefitted from the generosity of others who came before them stepped forward to assure a promising future for the Pipers of tomorrow,” said Bob Klas ’75, campaign chair and Ʒ鶹 trustee. “The fact that it raised over $122 million, surpassing the goal of $110 million, is phenomenal.”
Over the course of the campaign, 16,664 donors contributed 58,824 total gifts. These contributions funded the creation of 72 endowments and 68 annual scholarships. As part of the comprehensive campaign, Ʒ鶹 also received 121 grants totaling $21,434,279.
This support will be an additional boon to Ʒ鶹 students. More than 95% of incoming undergraduates receive Ʒ鶹 grants and scholarships. Currently, 48 percent of Ʒ鶹 undergraduates are also “first-generation” students, meaning that neither parent attended an institution of higher learning.
The campaign was formally launched in 2019. Support from both longtime donors and recent graduates has been crucial to Ʒ鶹’s success – and it is crucial to the university’s future.
“A donor should be urged to give ‘til it feels good! The act of giving and of making a positive impact should always be a feel-good experience. Fortunately, campaign supporters found numerous ways to give until it felt good,” Klas said.
The campaign namesake comes from Ʒ鶹’s status as Minnesota's first university, founded in 1854.
“The fundraising efforts of the past four years give Ʒ鶹 the resources to build the Ʒ鶹 of the 21st Century – a place which will create opportunities for all, provide upward mobility for graduates and develop the leaders of tomorrow,” said Heidi Fisher, Ʒ鶹’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement.