Marshall University’s most ambitious fundraising campaign soars past its $150 million goal.
Marshall Rises, Marshall University’s most ambitious fundraising campaign ever, has proven to be a spectacular success, easily surpassing its $150 million goal.
“The success of the Marshall Rises campaign is a testament to the love Marshall’s family and friends have for this storied institution,” said Marshall President Brad D. Smith. “Ron Area and his team at the Marshall Foundation have done a superb job communicating with our supporters and partners. The future is indeed bright for Marshall University.”
“Over the last 10 years we have put the pieces in place that have allowed us to be successful with the Marshall Rises campaign. In addition, we have also set the stage for future fundraising success,” said Dr. Ron Area, chief executive officer and senior vice president for development of the Marshall University Foundation Inc.
Thanks to the success of the Marshall Rises campaign, Area said the university is able to invest heavily in the future of the school, from renovating current buildings and constructing new ones to investing in students by offering more scholarships and rewarding faculty by providing them the chance to conduct further research.
In announcing the Marshall Rises comprehensive campaign in July 2016, then-President Jerome A. Gilbert said: “We are working closely with our alumni and friends to ensure Marshall rises to the next level for the betterment of our students, faculty, staff, region and state. We are relying on our alumni and friends who support the work of Marshall University to lead us further than we’ve ever gone before.”
The campaign team then launched what it labeled the “quiet phase” of the campaign in July 2016. Area explained that the following years produced an unprecedented level of giving, measured in both the number of donors and the dollars given.
At the Homecoming football game on Oct. 26, 2019, Gilbert revealed that the quiet phase had garnered more than $100 million and the university was readying an all-out public effort to raise the final $50 million.
That effort didn’t take long.
“The campaign topped its $150 million goal in May 2020,” Area said. “But we didn’t stop there and continued to bring in gifts and pledges at a record pace. By April of this year, the total raised stood at $175 million and is expected to edge even higher before a final campaign celebration planned for Aug. 26, 2022.”
“For us to exceed the campaign’s $150 million goal in such a short time is most remarkable,” said Sharon Shaffer, chair of the foundation board.
Some statistics dramatically detail the campaign’s success:
• The campaign generated more than 50,000 gifts and pledges; one-third of those who gave were first-time donors.
• More than 50% of the major givers who donated $25,000 or more were first-time major donors.
• Today Marshall has 2,000 major donor relationships. That’s 10 times the major relationships it had just 10 years ago.
• The campaign generated more than 100 gifts of six figures and up.
• Campaign giving from Marshall faculty and staff nearly doubled, with a large percentage of the new donors opting for giving via payroll deduction.
Today more than 500 additional students are receiving scholarship aid than were receiving aid prior to the campaign. In addition, Marshall’s endowment has increased from $110 million to $203 million.
“Momentum for the campaign was great, and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit,” Area explained. “But during the COVID shutdown we reached out to donors, which made an impact during a very challenging time. We found that donors were interested in supporting emergency priorities such as the food pantry, students in need and general scholarships. Relationships were created, and donors appreciated the interactions. It was gratifying not to lose momentum in the time frame.”
Area said a key factor in the campaign’s success was the involvement of Jerold Panas, Linzy & Partners, a Chicago-based professional fundraising firm. He praised Rick Bragga, a senior consultant with the firm, who worked closely with the Marshall team.
“Rick helped us stay focused,” Area said.
“Working with Ron and his team has been one of the top two or three experiences of my consulting career,” Bragga said. “They are professional, smart, flexible, committed and passionate about Marshall University. As a result, the campaign has been extremely successful, both in dollars raised and in the non-financial objectives such as culture change, integration and promotion.”
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About the Author: James E. Casto is the retired associate editor of The Herald-Dispatch and the author of a number of books on local and regional history.
Photo: Marshall University Foundation CEO and Senior Vice President of Development Ron Area (front center) and the MU Foundation staff are committed to the continuing development of Marshall University by creating a culture of philanthropy, volunteer leadership and exemplary fiduciary responsibility.