2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: News
Looking Ahead | Track record strong for capital campaigns
Donations exceeded goals for past three major fundraisers
Beth Sussman
When it comes to capital campaigns, the University has a history of reaching some hefty goals.
Since Ben Franklin's first fundraising efforts to establish the University, Penn administrators have embarked on six capital campaigns, including the campaign launched Saturday night.
And if history really does repeat itself, the odds are good that the University will reach its current $3.5 billion goal.
Each campaign, except the one conducted during the Great Depression, achieved or surpassed its original fundraising goal.
Funds raised in past campaigns were used for a variety of projects, but typically included the increase of financial aid, construction of new buildings and expanded endowments for professorships and research.
Though the specific goals of campaigns have changed over time, certain common themes link each campaign.
"The essential university purpose and mission has remained constant throughout the last century: research, teaching and public service," University Archivist Mark Frazier Lloyd said.
Lloyd noted that a campaign can be successful about once every 10 years.
The successes of past campaigns have taught today's fundraisers a few things about how to go about asking members of the University community for donations.
"As you go into [a campaign], you have to have a vision, clearly articulated goals and you have to be able to demonstrate impact," Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations John Zeller said.
Right now, Zeller says, support is at an all-time high, making the kickoff of the campaign timely.
"There's a great energy and excitement about Penn from students, alumni, faculty and staff," he said. "It's an institution that's really on the move."
On Friday, the University Archives and Records Center opened an exhibition chronicling the history of Penn's capital campaigns. The exhibition is located on the first floor of College Hall and will remain there for a year.
Since Ben Franklin's first fundraising efforts to establish the University, Penn administrators have embarked on six capital campaigns, including the campaign launched Saturday night.
And if history really does repeat itself, the odds are good that the University will reach its current $3.5 billion goal.
Each campaign, except the one conducted during the Great Depression, achieved or surpassed its original fundraising goal.
Funds raised in past campaigns were used for a variety of projects, but typically included the increase of financial aid, construction of new buildings and expanded endowments for professorships and research.
Though the specific goals of campaigns have changed over time, certain common themes link each campaign.
"The essential university purpose and mission has remained constant throughout the last century: research, teaching and public service," University Archivist Mark Frazier Lloyd said.
Lloyd noted that a campaign can be successful about once every 10 years.
The successes of past campaigns have taught today's fundraisers a few things about how to go about asking members of the University community for donations.
"As you go into [a campaign], you have to have a vision, clearly articulated goals and you have to be able to demonstrate impact," Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations John Zeller said.
Right now, Zeller says, support is at an all-time high, making the kickoff of the campaign timely.
"There's a great energy and excitement about Penn from students, alumni, faculty and staff," he said. "It's an institution that's really on the move."
On Friday, the University Archives and Records Center opened an exhibition chronicling the history of Penn's capital campaigns. The exhibition is located on the first floor of College Hall and will remain there for a year.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Alum
posted 10/23/07 @ 10:00 AM EST
We were told in the mid 1960's that the $93 million campaign fell well short of its goal and for that reason the low rise college houses patterned after Yale and Harvard were not built. (Continued…)
Stephen J. Marmon
posted 10/23/07 @ 2:16 PM EST
I don't know who told you that, but that was not the case. By the time in 1968 that the University was in advanced planning for raising the money for the college houses, two things had happened. (Continued…)
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