Topics: Administrative, Alumni, President

September 23, 2011

Ball State University announced today that it has raised a record $210.8 million at the conclusion of its Ball State Bold capital campaign, the university's most ambitious and successful effort.

Commitments to the campaign totaled $210,814,367. All told, 65,398 donors supported the campaign; nearly half — 29,024 — were first-time contributors to the university. The public phase of the campaign began in September 2008 and officially concluded on June 30, 2011.

"Private support for Ball State has never been more crucial," said President Jo Ann M. Gora. "We have an ambitious plan to prepare students for a world that is changing at an accelerating pace. The campaign provides the funds necessary to attract bright students and top-flight faculty, make immersive learning available to all students, and create a vibrant campus that facilitates learning.

"At a time when public support is shrinking and the economy is uncertain, our alumni and friends are steadfast and invested in our students' success and the direction of the university. I couldn't be more proud of the Ball State family's generosity. We owe our benefactors a deep debt of gratitude."

"I am overwhelmed by the number of my fellow alumni — more than 40,000 — who contributed to the campaign," said National Campaign Committee Chair Oz Nelson. "We set out to accomplish a philanthropic agenda that was as ambitious as the university's strategic plan. I am confident that even the most casual observer will conclude that there are many people who believe Ball State is a university on the move. Thank you to everyone who made the campaign a success."

The campaign provided nearly $17.5 million for immersive learning, the hallmark of a Ball State education. Interdisciplinary student teams partner with external partners to develop real-world solutions to real-world problems. In the past four years, more than 12,000 students have completed more than 700 immersive learning projects throughout Indiana and as far-reaching as Hong Kong, Venice, and Malawi.

The university also raised about $40.8 million for intellectually curious students. Ball State Bold established more than 200 new scholarships. Of those, 133 are newly endowed awards, many of them merit-based, and 55 Bold Celebration Scholarships were created, each totaling $40,000.

A total of $35 million was raised to attract nationally recognized faculty to the university. Gifted, dedicated, passionate faculty, combined with great students and exceptional facilities, are key components in establishing nationally recognized programs. Some of the recognitions include:

  • Just last week, U.S. News & World Report ranked Ball State eighth among the "up-and-coming" colleges and universities in 2011.
  • Twenty-eight academic programs are nationally ranked or recognized.
  • The National Wildlife Federation, the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, and The Princeton Review have honored Ball State for its comprehensive sustainability efforts.
  • Since 2005, 41 Ball State students or recent alumni have earned 43 national scholarships and fellowships.
  • The Princeton Review has named Ball State one of the best universities in the Midwest for seven years running.

Alumni and friends of the university invested almost $66.7 million in the university's vibrant campus. Stimulating speakers, state-of-the-art buildings and the latest technology are not about amenities. They facilitate transformative learning and student success. Enhancements to Ball State's facilities and campus life have strengthened the minds and bodies of its students. Campus improvements include:

  • The David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series
  • The Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass
  • Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Honors House
  • Student Recreation and Wellness Center
  • John B. and June M. Scheumann Stadium
  • A. Umit Taftali Center for Capital Markets and Investing
  • Helen B. and Martin D. Schwartz Special Collections and Digital Complex
  • Dr. Joe and Alice Rinard Greenhouse
  • David Owsley Museum of Art

In addition, Ball State Bold provided more than $50.8 million for university enhancements and operations that further benefit students, employees, alumni and the community.

To access donors by category and giving by source, follow this link: https://www.bsu.edu/Giving/Bold/BytheNumbers.aspx

By Joan Todd, Executive Director of Public Relations