Milligan has announced that they have concluded with the largest fundraising campaign in its 150-year history: about $70 million. Milligan has been fundraising for the Forward Ever campaign since 2008. The administration has used this fundraising campaign to fund projects such as scholarships, capital projects and the endowment.
The goals of the Forward Ever campaign were implemented to fund three different areas.
The first area was scholarships. The goal was to fund the Milligan Fund, new program development, science building renovations, P.H. Welshimer library renovations and endowment (donations). Without this endowment, Milligan would not be able to grow or expand.
The second focus was community related. This money will be going to residence hall renovations and expansions, a track and soccer complex, Anglin Field improvements, campus infrastructure and expansion, and a multipurpose athletic, academic and student center.
The third and final group of goals are faith based, including funding for Emmanuel Christian Seminary, Seeger Chapel Enhancements, and cross-cultural and experiential spiritual development programs.
The Stampede sat down with Jack Simpson, vice president for institutional advancement, to get some details about the Forward Ever campaign and see how these goals and achievements came to be.
“We looked at the long range lists and plucked off of those lists that will both have donor interests, and that’s a big priority–You raise money for what donors want to donate and want to support, but also support the institution,” Simpson said.
The first phase of the Forward Ever campaign raised $28 million. With this money, Milligan was able to work on capital projects, like the Gregory Center for the Liberal Arts, which was one of the first projects of the Forward Ever campaign, and it opened in January 2008. This is where plays are performed, humanities lectures are held and some special events are hosted.
The second project was the Gilliam Wellness Center, which opened in March 2010, offering an alternative to the fieldhouse weight room as a place on campus for students to work out.
Milligan was also able to renovate the Mary B. Martin Auditorium in Seeger Chapel as well as other projects to enhance the campus. This phase also helped fund and start new academic programs and scholarships, as well as increase Milligan’s endowment.
The second phase of the Forward Ever campaign began in 2014 and raised nearly $42 million, $2 million over the original goal.
There were some big goals accomplished during phase two of Forward Ever.
Emmanuel Christian Seminary joined Milligan’s School of Bible and Ministry. An engineering program and a physician assistants program launched, as well as new undergraduate majors in graphic design and Spanish and three new graduate degrees. The Village was built and there were renovations all across campus: in the Grill, the fieldhouse, Seeger Chapel, the science building and the library. The Sesquicentennial Plaza and the Energy Sustainability Project are some of the biggest highlights.
“We are working on (another fundraising campaign) as we speak,” Simpson said. “The board is having long range planning meetings, and in April we’ll have a longer broad range planning meetings.”