Comprehensive fundraising aims for $300 million goal by 2020 to boost endowment, scholarships, missions and more
Ten months into the “We Believe” comprehensive fundraising campaign, Belmont University announced today that donations recently surpassed $100 million, marking a major milestone toward a total $300 million goal by 2020. The campaign focuses attention on five areas that are key to the University’s Vision 2020 strategic priorities, including scholarships, faculty support and missions. Total money raised to date for the campaign currently stands at $100,162,799.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “This fundraising campaign will strengthen Belmont’s ability to offer a world class education by attracting top faculty, enhancing student experiences, creating mission opportunities, supporting athletics and expanding student research. Most importantly, this campaign will better position us to aid qualified students in achieving a Belmont education, regardless of their financial circumstances.”
To date, more than 10,000 donors have contributed to the campaign, and nearly 70 new endowed scholarships have been created. Highlights since last April’s public campaign launch include the largest single gift in University history ($15 million from the Ayers Foundation) along with gifts to create a $2 million endowment to support Belmont missions and a $4 million endowment for ‘Bridges to Belmont’ (the first made possible by Trustee Jim Wright and his wife Susan while the latter results from a gift from Trustees Joe and Anne Russell, respectively).
HCA Chairman and CEO and Belmont alumnus Milton Johnson is chairing the campaign in its inaugural year. He said, “I give to Belmont because I can personally attest to the transformative power of a Belmont education, and I believe such a world-class education can help individuals reach their greatest potential. I am encouraged to see how many new and long-time donors are stepping up to help make that happen for generations of students to come.”
The $300 million campaign will include total money raised through Dec. 31, 2020. Thanks to a long history of strong financial management and diligent cost control, Belmont is able to partner with its supporters to leverage their investments in the institution’s future. The University is matching contributions to campaign priority endowments between $25,000 and $1.5 million ‘dollar for dollar,’ doubling the impact of each donor’s commitment.
Specific campaign priorities include:
- Endowed scholarships to ensure more qualified students can receive a Belmont education regardless of financial means
- Faculty support through endowed chairs/professorships to attract and retain preeminent experts in their fields
- Missions support to expand endowed funds to enhance Belmont’s undeniably Christian environment and further students’ ability to serve in the U.S. and abroad
- Athletics funding for endowed scholarships to support high-caliber student athletes who embody Belmont values and represent the University around the world
- Annual Giving to create a culture of philanthropy among Belmont constituent groups that encourages consistent, long-term giving
Belmont’s Vice President for Development and External Relations Dr. Perry Moulds added, “We are so grateful for the countless individuals who have already given to this campaign. I believe their generosity will take an already successful institution to the next level, catapulting us even further onto the national stage and empowering what I imagine to be an extraordinary future for this campus.”
Click here to view the “We Believe” campaign launch video.
For more information on the campaign, giving priorities and ways to give, visit Belmont’s We Believe website.
