Administration

Penn State crosses $1 billion mark in current campaign

Having surpassed $1 billion in its current fundraising campaign, “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” Penn State is among only 11 institutions nationwide to secure $1 billion or more in three separate fundraising campaigns. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has now raised more than $1 billion in its current fundraising campaign, “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence.” The announcement from Rick Sokolov, campaign chair, came at a meeting of volunteers charged with helping the effort to hit its $1.6 billion goal by June 30, 2021. The current tally in “A Greater Penn State” places the University among only 11 institutions nationwide to secure $1 billion or more in three separate fundraising campaigns.

“This is a very significant milestone that is a reflection of the generosity of our extended Penn State family combined with the commitment and efforts of our volunteers and our development staff,” said Sokolov. “I could not be prouder of this achievement. Our supporters have already accomplished something extraordinary with the ‘Greater Penn State’ campaign, and I look forward to continuing this momentum for the remainder of the campaign so we can provide even more resources to influence student success, faculty achievement, and programmatic excellence.”

The current campaign builds upon the success of Penn State’s two preceding campaigns. Launched in 1996, “A Grand Destiny” secured $1.37 billion before it concluded in 2003. The University’s next effort, “For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students,” began in 2007 and concluded with a total of $2.16 billion in 2014. The “Greater Penn State” campaign was launched two years later under the leadership of President Eric J. Barron, as a fulfillment of the vision communicated in the University’s strategic plan.

“Our land-grant mission demands that we keep our doors open to talented and ambitious undergraduates from every background, create the transformative experiences that allow our students and our faculty to fulfill their vast potential, and impact the world through meaningful research and outreach,” said Barron. “That’s what it will mean to be a ‘Greater Penn State’ in the years ahead, and I am profoundly grateful to the supporters who have been inspired to give by this commitment to serving the larger good as well as our students.”

With an anticipated conclusion in 2021, just over 55 percent of the campaign’s timeline has elapsed, and it has now raised more than 63 percent of its total $1.6 billion goal. By hitting the $1 billion mark, Penn State joins Cornell, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, New York University, Stanford, and the Universities of Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington in the exclusive club of institutions who have raised $1 billion or more in three separate campaigns.

“The campaign’s success places us in the top tier of institutions nationwide, not just for our fundraising operation but also for the experience we can offer to Penn State students through philanthropic support,” said O. Richard Bundy III, vice president for development and alumni relations. “Our success in reaching the $1 billion mark is a powerful statement about the loyalty of Penn State’s alumni and friends, the dedication of our volunteers and staff, and the vision of President Barron for our institution’s future.”

To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.

Last Updated April 12, 2019