Hamline University has exceeded the $110 million fundraising goal of its “Take the Lead” comprehensive fundraising campaign, President Fayneese Miller announced during the annual President’s Celebration Dinner at the St. Paul Intercontinental Hotel Thursday night. Substantial funds are planned to target financial aid and scholarships, student support programs and academic initiatives.
“While the amount raised is a significant achievement, at its heart this campaign is not about dollars. It is about our students,” President Miller said. “This tremendous effort will now give way to an improved and more affordable college experience for our students, while also giving faculty the tools they need to propel students onto a successful path after graduation. The final success of this campaign will be reflected in the accomplishments of Hamline students.”
The greatest fundraising priorities have been scholarships and financial aid. This support will be a boon to Hamline students (48% of which are first-generation students), seeing as more than 95% of incoming undergraduates receive Hamline grants and scholarships.
The campaign focused its fundraising efforts as follows:
- Financial Aid and Scholarships: $30 million
- Academic Initiatives: $20 million
- Campus Improvements: $20 million
- Annual Fund and Innovation: $20 million
- Student Support: $10 million
- Athletic Programs: $10 million
Development of the campaign began in 2015 when Miller became university president. The campaign was formally launched in 2019 and ends on December 31, 2023. Support from both longtime donors and recent graduates has been crucial to Hamline’s success – and it is crucial to the university’s future.
The campaign namesake comes from Hamline’s status as Minnesota's first university, having taken the lead since 1854. The fundraising efforts of the past four years now give Hamline the resources to build the Hamline University of the 21st Century – a place which will create opportunities for all, provide upward mobility for graduates and develop the leaders of tomorrow.
For more information about campaign priorities, or to give in the remaining months, visit www.hamline.edu/campaign.
