GIVE RISE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCH

GIVE RISE

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCH

Susquehanna University publicly launched its capital campaign Give Rise during Homecoming-Reunion Weekend with the announcement that more than $140 million has already been committed toward its $160 million goal – the most ambitious fundraising effort in the university’s history.

“Susquehanna is poised to rise to a new level of leadership in higher education by fortifying support for our students, enhancing our campus, and augmenting our resources for programmatic and faculty development,” announced President Jonathan Green. “Our graduates are prepared to lead because they have learned how to observe, to analyze, and to act wisely. For them, and for those who will follow, we must complete a campaign unprecedented in our history.”

The campaign, which will support student scholarships, capital improvements, and Susquehanna’s endowment, has been privately gaining momentum since early 2012, raising nearly 88% of its goal despite challenges presented by the Covid pandemic that delayed the campaign’s public announcement. A generous grant from the 1994 Charles B. Degenstein Foundation in 2017 and a $10 million commitment in 2018 from the late Lucille Arthur, widow of Doug Arthur ’49, were notable early gifts. Members of the Board of Trustees have a 100% participation rate, committing over $30 million.

President Green also announced a group of trustees and former trustees has issued a $5 million Endowment Challenge. If SU raises $5 million in gifts to the endowment in one year, from Oct. 23, 2021, until Oct. 31, 2022, the trustee group will match that with their own donation of $5 million. This means that $10 million can be added to the Susquehanna endowment, providing even more scholarship support for SU students in perpetuity.

“The support of over 13,000 gifts to Susquehanna from alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends during the quiet phase of the campaign was so vital to our being able to announce such a significant total to date,” said Melissa Komora, vice president for advancement at Susquehanna.

“We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support our donors have shown the Give Rise campaign to this point,” said Dawn Grigg ’68 Mueller and Martin Pinter ’98, members of Susquehanna’s Board of Trustees and co-chairs of the campaign committee. “Their contributions will lead to new opportunities at Susquehanna that otherwise wouldn’t be possible and will elevate every area of this university to ensure SU is known for the extraordinary education and experience that exist here.”

You can learn more about the Give Rise campaign at SUSQU.EDU/GIVERISE.