Forever Valpo: The Campaign for Our Future reaches $200 million milestone

Valparaiso University has raised more than $200 million in gifts and commitments to support students, faculty and programs through Forever Valpo: The Campaign for Our Future. Forever Valpo is a $250 million endowment campaign and was launched on September 23, 2016.

“Passing $200 million is a great accomplishment,” said Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D., president of Valparaiso University. “We are celebrating this milestone because of the support of thousands of alumni, friends, faculty, staff, parents and other members of the Valpo family. Their support has never been stronger, which I believe reflects a real endorsement and understanding of the purpose of Forever Valpo.”

The strategic priorities of Forever Valpo are to raise endowed funds that will provide permanent support for students, faculty and programs. Many of the gifts are already impacting their designated areas. The Robert and Kathleen Hansen Endowed Scholarship of Study Abroad was established in 2016 and nearly 100 students have benefited. Ruth Wertz, Ph.D., assistant professor of engineering, is the first recipient of the Don Fites Endowed Faculty Fellowship and is completing a book on engineering education.

More than $42 million of the funds raised to date will support student scholarships. Donors have established new or contributed to existing scholarships funds for each academic college. There are now more than 210 endowed scholarship funds to aid Valpo students.

A similar amount, of nearly $41 million, has been contributed to programs that will prepare all Valpo students for lives of leadership, service and generosity. Endowed funds that are providing permanent resources for the Beumer Writing Center, University Counseling Services, the Institute for Leadership and Service and other programs are already in place.

Valpo donors have contributed more than $32 million for faculty development. This includes chairs, professorships, fellowships and research funds that will allow Valpo to reward faculty for their scholarship and accomplishments and provide them with opportunities for professional development.

While it is important to build the endowment, annual giving to the University is also counted toward the Campaign goal. To date more than 21,500 donors have made a gift to Forever Valpo, the majority of which have been annual gifts. This widespread support provides vital operating resources and helps the University address its most urgent needs.

Forever Valpo: The Campaign for Our Future is a $250 million Campaign and is scheduled to run through June 2021.