Truman Launches $40 Million “Pursue the Future” Fundraising Campaign

 
Truman has publicly announced a $40 million comprehensive fundraising campaign entitled “Pursue the Future.”
 
The public launch was initiated by President Troy D. Paino at a press conference and special ceremony during Homecoming 2015 festivities on Oct. 9.
 
“Private gift support from alumni and friends is an important component of our plan to protect Truman’s distinctive qualities,” Paino said. “With diminished funding for higher education at the state level and nationwide, this campaign will channel additional resources to key areas such as student scholarships and academic program support.”
 
The campaign has four priorities – scholarships, academic program and faculty support, athletics and unrestricted giving through the Truman Fund for Excellence. Need-based and merit scholarships represent $25 million of the campaign’s overall goal.
 
“Central to Truman’s mission is providing deserving students from all social backgrounds the access to a high-quality liberal arts experience,” Paino said.
 
A goal of $10 million has been established for academic programs and faculty support, designed to help offset the status quo or reductions within the operating budgets of schools and departments across campus due to lingering budgetary pressure.
 
A target of $2.5 million has been set to improve facilities, programs and scholarships for intercollegiate athletics. The campaign’s final priority is $2.5 million for unrestricted giving, allowing resources to be directed to greatest need areas.
 
Truman began the advanced gifts, or “quiet phase,” of the five-year campaign on July 1, 2013, and has been generating cash, multi-year pledges and deferred gift commitments toward the goal. To date, the campaign has received $24.9 million in gift commitments from 10,640 donors. So far, a total of 71 new funds have been established, including 45 scholarship funds. More than $16 million has been raised for student scholarships.
 
Several leadership gift commitments have been secured during the campaign’s quiet phase, including the University’s largest-ever gift commitment, a $7 million gift from alumni Dan and Jan Shepherd of Clifton Hill, Mo. The gift, a future commitment through their estate, will provide $6 million for student scholarships and $1 million in unrestricted gifts.
 
The public phase is designed to seek gift support from all Truman constituents to complete the campaign in a successful fashion. Regional campaigns will be established in 10 strategic markets across the country where the University has a higher concentration of alumni. A volunteer chair and campaign committee will guide efforts in those areas, including a campaign kickoff event followed by efforts to secure commitments from alumni and friends. More than 100 volunteers are expected to assist in the regional campaigns.
 
Dr. Sharron Quisenberry of Tifton, Ga., a 1966 Truman alumna and retired Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Iowa State University, is serving as campaign chair. She leads a 10-member campaign steering committee, which is providing volunteer leadership, direction and focus to the overall fundraising effort. The campaign is scheduled to conclude in June 2018.
 
The Truman State University Foundation secures, invests and distributes funds to benefit the University and its students. As of June 30, 2015, the Foundation has total assets of $44.8 million and an endowment of $39.8 million.

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