Colorado State University Reaches $500 Million Campaign Goal Ahead of Schedule

Note to Reporters: A media assets page with downloadable broadcast-quality video and audio and high-resolution photos will be available by 2 p.m. at http://www.news.colostate.edu/assets-campaign.aspx.

Colorado State University today announced that in December, it reached its ambitious $500 million goal for the university’s first-ever comprehensive campaign – six months before the official end of the Campaign for Colorado State. The accomplishment will be celebrated at the annual 1870 donor dinner Saturday night.

“The Campaign for Colorado State has transformed our university, and its impact will continue to be felt for years to come,” said CSU President Tony Frank. “This is just the beginning. Not only do we have six months left in which to take the campaign to an unprecedented level, but we have to think about what’s next. Private giving is more important now than ever, given the financial realities of our state and the challenges many of our students face in paying for their education in a tight economy. When a student graduates from CSU, we all benefit. We must continue to invest in opening doors and creating opportunities.”

CSU publicly announced the launch of its first-ever comprehensive campaign in the 139-year history of the university in August 2009. The goal for the Campaign for Colorado State University, which began in a silent phase on July 1, 2005, was to complete a $500 million fundraising effort in seven years. The campaign focused on ensuring student access to a world-class education through scholarships, supporting faculty through endowed chairs and professorships, providing funds to increase quality through enhanced programs, and creating and renovating state-of-the-art educational, research and athletic facilities.

“We launched the Campaign for Colorado State during one of the worst economic climates of any of our lifetimes,” said Brett Anderson, vice president for University Advancement at CSU. “We knew the students, faculty and staff of CSU needed and deserved the support we could give them through a campaign, so we moved forward. You can already see the amazing results of this campaign across our campus, and we plan to be far beyond the $500 million mark when the campaign officially ends on June 30.

“Right now we have nearly 90,000 people to thank – donors large and small – who helped us reach this incredible milestone. I am so proud of how the CSU community has come together to support this flagship institution and create a platform of giving upon which we can continue to build. ”

Highlights of CSU’s first-ever comprehensive campaign include:

• $508.3 million raised to date
• 89,757 donors
• Donors from 50 states and 50 countries
• 15,372 scholarships awarded
• $59 million raised for new scholarships
• 16 new chairs and professorships
• 39 facilities built or renovated
• 66 donations of $1 million or more
• 32,323 CSU alumni donations ($81.4 million)
• 430 new planned gifts

In July, the university announced a 47 percent increase in private gift fundraising for the year, bucking the national trend for the second consecutive year. Nearly 28,000 donors – including 8,999 first-time supporters – gave more than $85 million to Colorado State in the 2010-11 fiscal year. The fundraising period was from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011. Colorado State also witnessed sizable increases in overall alumni engagement, alumni volunteers and alumni association membership during this time.

Private fundraising numbers for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, are already on track to be the best in CSU history. More than $82 million has been raised since July 1, 2011, and the university has seen a greater than 20 percent increase in donors over last year.

With decreases in state funding for higher education, Colorado State relies more than ever on donors to support its future by investing in students and faculty. As the state’s flagship research university, Colorado State is dedicated to ensuring that all qualified Colorado students have access to a premier research university education.

For more information, including campaign impact reports for each of Colorado State’s colleges, visit http://campaign.colostate.edu/.

-30-