LC launches new major fundraising campaign

After years of planning, Lewis & Clark has launched its Exploring for the Global Good fundraising program, with a goal to raise $155 million by 2024 for improving campus programs and facilities. Exploring for the Global Good is LC’s first major fundraiser in 20 years. The program consists of marketing campaigns, grant proposals and public events in major cities. 

Josh Walter, vice president for advancement, says that the program has already exceeded the administration’s expectations. Since the fundraiser launched in June 2021, the school has already raised $100 million of their $155 million goal, well ahead of schedule. 

“Every gift toward the college makes a difference and is counted toward the campaign goal,” Walter said.

In a video announcing the program, President Wim Wiewel said the funds will be directed along three main paths: people, places and programs. The people-centric aspect of the fundraiser will be devoted to preserving LC’s tight-knit, small-college character, even if class sizes increase. 

Natalie Hollabaugh ’21 also appeared in the video.

“What’s kept me here, I think, is the fact that everybody knows everyone else,” she said, describing why people-focused fundraising is important at LC. “It’s such a small environment. People really care about you.”

In another video, Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students Robin Holmes-Sullivan said that creating welcoming places on campus is crucial to students’ educational and emotional well-being, citing the renovation of Templeton as a quality-of-life improvement that will be financed through this fundraiser. Lastly, the piece of the budget targeted toward programs will go to improving internship and lab opportunities for students.

Exploring for the Global Good is informed by the school’s Campus Facilities Plan, a study conducted in 2019 to assess where new buildings needed to be built on campus. The study also estimated the potential price tag of the improvements. The school’s first priority, though, will not be infrastructure-based: According to Walter, LC plans to use some of the funds to increase financial aid to low income students. 

Later improvements include the renovation of Huston Sports Complex, which will get an astroturf field. Further down the line, Stewart, Odell and Akin Halls are planned to be replaced with new mixed-use buildings, to form what the Facilities Plan calls a “residential and community district” outside of Templeton, reminiscent of an urban downtown.

In-person fundraising events will be held in Denver on Sept. 28, Minneapolis on Sept. 30, and Seattle on Oct. 12. Wiewel and a handful of current students will be present at each event, speaking about their plans for LC’s future. According to Walter, LC’s administrative staff are also pursuing alumni and parents to ask for donations. 

As colleges and universities nationwide climb out of a COVID-induced financial slump, many are holding fundraisers. Walter believes that most colleges and universities in the United States are either planning or carrying out fundraising campaigns, so LC will need to compete with other schools for donors’ affections.

“Campaigns are most successful when everyone in the community works together to raise awareness and support,” Walter said. “This is a very exciting time for the college.”

Illustration by Amelia Madarang