Inside INdiana Business is reporting Indiana University says it has topped the $2 billion mark with more than two years remaining in its bicentennial fundraising campaign. The school says it has raised the goal for the For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign from $2.5 billion to $3 billion by 2020.
The public phase of the campaign launched in September 2015, with the goal of raising $2.5 billion by the school’s 200th anniversary in 2020. So far, IU says more than 270,000 people have contributed, including nearly 14,000 faculty and staff donating $126 million. In addition to increasing the goal to $3 billion, the university will extend the campaign by six months, through June 2020. IU is planning a yearlong bicentennial celebration during the 2019-2020 academic year.
Indiana University President Michael McRobbie made the announcement Saturday at an event honoring those who the school says have been central to the campaign’s success. He says growing and extending the campaign allows the school to take full advantage of “a time that will never happen again.” McRobbie also Saturday announced a new scholarship endowment fund, “The Indiana University Advantage,” designed to support students from low-income households.
The campaign targets four broad university priorities: supporting IU students and enabling their success, preparing the next generation of global leaders, developing new ideas that change the way we live and creating a healthier state, nation and world. The school says support for the campaign has led to four consecutive years of record philanthropic support for the university.
Since the campaign launched, IU says it has added 3,500 new scholarships and 147 endowed chairs and professorships across the seven IU-administered campuses throughout the state.