-R. Steven Brown, Former Vice President of Development,
Indiana State University serves its state and region with strong undergraduate and graduate education and a focus on community and public service. Named one of The Princeton Review’s “Best in the Midwest” for the last seven years, Indiana State educates more than 11,000 students across more than a hundred majors. The Indiana State University Foundation secures private philanthropic support to advance Indiana State’s growth and success.
An inaugural campaign is always a significant undertaking for any university, but as a public institution, Indiana State and the Foundation also faced a unique challenge in communicating the importance of private philanthropy to its mission and future. Indiana State also underwent a transition in the University presidency at a critical early stage of the campaign—just before the Great Recession, amplifying the challenges facing the campaign’s leadership and progress.
Campbell & Company saw Indiana State’s first-ever comprehensive campaign as an opportunity not only to secure major gifts for the institution, but to guide the University and Foundation to a higher trajectory in fundraising. Following an initial philanthropic market study, we began developing a plan to not only realize Indiana State's short-term fundraising potential but also to build a stronger development program to drive the Foundation beyond the campaign.
Early in our work together, we realized that the University’s historic institutional relationship between the University and the Foundation was in need of review. Campbell & Company advised Indiana State in evolving the Foundation’s governance structure and practices to function as a true independent foundation. The Campbell & Company Executive Search team then completed a successful search for the first-ever Foundation President.
When the University’s leadership transition and the challenging economic climate brought to light questions about the campaign’s future, we worked directly with staff and board leadership to maintain focus, momentum and energy to keep the campaign moving forward.
In 2009, the University and Foundation announced the public launch of MARCH ON! The Campaign for Indiana State University, with $77 million raised to date toward an ambitious goal of $85 million. As of Feburary 1, 2012, the University and Foundation closed its first campaign with an attinment of $86.7 million. This comprehensive campaign will make transformative investments in student financial aid, faculty and program support, and campus facilities.
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