UNSTOPPABLE

Transforming Students – Transforming Lives: The Campaign for Rider University
2024 DONOR IMPACT REPORT
Transforming Students – Transforming Lives: The Campaign for Rider University is the largest comprehensive campaign in Rider history. Launched privately in 2017 and publicly in 2022, the campaign supports the University’s strategic plan through a focus on student support, strengthening the University as a whole and funding campus improvements.
BUILD RIDER ’ S ENDOWMENT » INVEST IN RIDER ’ S CAMPUS » STRENGTHEN RIDER ’ S ANNUAL FUND
RAISED SO FAR $ 88.7 million
DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS ,
Thank you for generously giving to Transforming Students – Transforming Lives: The Campaign for Rider University . With your help, we have already made significant strides in supporting the education of Rider’s dedicated students through new scholarships, campus improvements, thoughtful planned gifts and key yearly giving to the Annual Fund.
Through your support we have been able to push past our original fundraising objective of $80 million and have set our sights on our new goal of $100 million. This amount allows us to reach specific fundraising targets for such projects as the expansion and continued renovation of Alumni Gym and the construction of a new sports performance center.
We are truly grateful for each and every contribution to this historic initiative. It is through your partnership that we are able to continue to transform students’ lives.
With gratitude,



CREATING THE RIDER EXPERIENCE, TOGETHER.
Gift by gift, the Annual Fund builds over the course of each year to support daily University life, powering scholarships, academics, research, student services and operations. In acknowledgement of its leading role in the student experience, the University has made increased support for the Annual Fund a top campaign priority. Rider donors have responded, contributing $9.9 million in support since the campaign’s inception, including a recent $1.5 million anonymous gift from an alumnus who recognized the importance of this resource to the University and its students.
ENHANCING OUR BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS
Campaign gifts, totaling $15 million, have helped to fund an array of noteworthy campus improvements , including a sizable expansion of the Mike and Patti Hennessy Science and Technology Center.
The building now offers a new greenhouse, more classrooms, labs and state-of-the-art equipment, and growing programs in computer science, cybersecurity, health sciences and exercise science. The campaign has also provided students with unique outdoor spaces, updated a residence hall and created a specialized rehearsal space for Westminster’s bell choir. To close the campaign, the focus is on acquiring additional funding to expand Alumni Gym and build the Keith and Christine DiGrazio Sports Performance Center.


These accomplishments reflect the broad community support that the campaign has inspired at every level of giving.
16,495
DONORS TO THE CAMPAIGN
$21M
$22.8M GIFTS OF A MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE 18
ADDED TO THE ENDOWMENT, WITH THE ADDITION OF 52 NEW ENDOWED FUNDS
RECEIVED FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
IN NEW DOCUMENTED PLANNED GIFTS, WITH $ 100,000,000
MORE THAN MADE IRREVOCABLE.
HELP US REACH OUR NEW GOAL OF

SECURING THE FUTURE
Last year, a trust established by James H. McGordy ’39 and Elsie Varga ’39 endowed a scholarship benefiting commuter students within the College of Education and Human Services. The couple’s planned gift, worth $2.35 million when it was realized, also partially funded an annual scholarship for eligible incoming undergraduate education majors. Because they take years to realize, planned gifts are not limited to your current wealth and can have great value and impact on students of tomorrow. Including Rider University in your estate plans costs you nothing today, and has a lasting impact.
COMPLETING THE ARENA PROJECT
Alumni Gym stands as a cornerstone of campus life, rich in history and historic moments. Past projects have improved daily operations for Athletics, contributed to a better game day experience for fans and elevated facilities for student-athletes. Now the focus is expanding the building to bring an arena-like feel to the facility with an entertainment suite overlooking the court, a new scoreboard and a larger lobby. The University is very close to raising the funds needed to begin these projects and enhance one of the most visible parts of Rider’s NCAA Division I athletic program.


CELEBRATED NAMINGS
We are so thankful to our generous and loyal alumni whose names now mark prominent campus locations, among them:
Steven R. Beckett ’74 and Sharon McDonaldBeckett Village; Bierenbaum Fisher Hall; Norm Brodsky College of Business; Keith and Christine DiGrazio Sports Performance Center; Canastra Health and Sports Center; Mike and Patti Hennessy Science and Technology Center; Longstreet House; Lynch Adler Hall; Thomas ’70 and Tina Mulhare Patio; Muller’s Pub; William M. Rue ’69 Auditorium; and the Gary Taylor Wrestling Center, named by alumnus Tim Morrison ’83.