A single transformational gift can spark unprecedented momentum and result in record-shattering donations to a college or university—as officials at Baylor University in Texas know well.
In early 2012, alumnus Drayton McLane Jr. and his family kicked off donor support for an ambitious $260 million on-campus football stadium. At the time it was the largest capital gift in university history (amount undisclosed).
That gift launched Baylor’s most successful two-year period of fundraising ever, with total gifts and pledges surpassing $345.3 million. More than 18,000 of the 40,000 donors during that period were giving to Baylor for the first time.
Slated for a fall 2014 opening, McLane Stadium is just one result of the giving fever. Baylor’s $100 million President’s Scholarship Initiative was completed early, and another $100 million went to the future Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation. Launching soon is Phase II of the “From Here We Build” campaign, with a five-year, $320 million goal.
