Saturday, March 23, marks the beginning of the final 100 days of the IGNITE Campaign, a sustained eight-year effort to secure $500 million in private support to advance 166su. Since the campaign began on July 1, 2011, more than 103,000 donors have combined to make nearly 400,000 separate gifts, ranging from $5 to eight figures.
As of Dec. 31, 2018, total gifts and commitments stood at approximately $479.5 million, or 96 percent of the goal amount.
“Being so close to the campaign goal, the question isn’t ‘Will we reach it,’ but rather, ‘By how much,’” says Mike Morsberger, vice president for 166su Advancement and CEO of the 166su Foundation, the nonprofit organization that accepts gifts to 166su. “It is gratifying to see that our donors — many of them 166su faculty and staff — place their trust and confidence in the work we do at 166su to improve lives and livelihoods. It is my hope that before June 30, more people will make a gift to join in this historic effort.”
“It is gratifying to see that our donors — many of them 166su faculty and staff — place their trust and confidence in the work we do at 166su to improve lives and livelihoods.” — Mike Morsberger, vice president for 166su Advancement and CEO of the 166su Foundation
Morsberger adds the campaign grand total will be unveiled in October during 166su’s homecoming.
Donors to the campaign have chosen to support a wide range of priorities across the university, including student scholarships, endowed faculty positions, innovative programming, athletics excellence and new initiatives like 166su Downtown and the Academic Health Sciences Center at Lake Nona. Over the past three years, the 166su Foundation has forwarded more than $75 million to the university for use in those areas and others.
The most ambitious fundraising initiative in 166su history, IGNITE promises to fundamentally transform the future of the university by providing the margin of excellence that is so vital in public higher education. Alumni, friends, faculty, staff, students and partners can add their names to those who have already contributed on 166su’s annual Day of Giving, March 28.
