Page 17 - BusinessWest October 28, 2024

EDUCATION >>
Accelerating the Process
UMass Amherst’s $600 Million Campaign Seeks to Harness Momentum, Generate More
BY GEORGE O’BRIEN
[email protected]
hile UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes is thoroughly engrossed in the univer- sity’s ongoing $600 million fundraising cam- paign, the most ambitious in the school’s history, he admits to allowing himself to
occasionally think about the next campaign and the bold, round-number goal that might be attached to it.
“I’m not sure, but most of the flagships, after having a $600 million or so campaign ... they’ll go after $1 billion, and I see no reason why we shouldn’t set that goal given where we are and the stature we have,” Reyes told BusinessWest. “We’re developing a stronger foundation, a stronger philan- thropic arm of the university, and I have no doubt that we’re building such a strong foundation that the next one will get us to those levels.”
But enough about the next campaign and that statement goal.
The current initiative, called “Accelerate: The Campaign for UMass Amherst,” is still in its middle stages, with much work still to be done. To date, more than $452 million has been raised from nearly 100,000 donors, with several “trans- formative” gifts that are helping the school make major strides with the campaign’s three major commitments: revo- lutionizing access to higher education; growing investment in cutting-edge research, teaching, and creative endeavors; and magnifying the university’s impact on the common good” (more on these later).
Overall, the campaign is aptly named, said Reyes, adding that, through the campaign and the funds it will raise, the institution will work toward accelerating a wave of momen- tum that has seen the university and individual schools and programs, such as the Isenberg School of Management, rise in the U.S. News & World Report rankings and increasingly become a school of choice.
Its $600 million goal makes a statement in its own right, he said, noting that this number speaks to not only how high the state’s flagship public university has risen, but also to
its plans to continue on that trajectory at a time when many institutions are struggling.
And while the goal of the campaign is to raise money — for individual schools, programs, capital projects, and initia- tives, as well as an endowment currently at roughly $600 million, well below other major state universities — in the course of doing so, many other goals are met, said Reyes and UMass Amherst Foundation President Arwen Duffy. At the top of this list is the opportunity to tell the university’s story to those who might not know all the recent chapters, and connecting — or reconnecting — with members of many dif- ferent constituencies, including alumni, parents, foundations, the business community, and others.
“It’s not a one-time buildup; it’s getting to a new level of philanthropy, a new level of fundraising efforts, a new level of connecting with your alumni,” Reyes said. “If you can contin- ue gathering and really nurturing those relationships for the future, it sets the stage for future contributions.
“You also try to make sure that this is a way to bring to light great things happening at the university that many may not have noticed yet,” he went on. “When you look at your extensive alumni network, you’re able to show programs that have had tremendous success in the past years and leverage that for the future.”
Duffy agreed. “We’re trying to stay close to alumni and present opportunities for them to engage,” she noted. “And often, that engagement sparks a desire to give back in other ways. When people know what we’re up to, when they see the work that we’re doing, that often inspires investment.
“The goals set forth for this campaign are ambitious,” she went on. “But the collective power of our community makes them achievable. Alumni cherish their ties to the university, carry that pride with them, and bring inspiring energy to serving as ambassadors for UMass Amherst.”
“I’m not sure, but most of the flagships, after having a $600 million or so campaign ... they’ll go after $1 billion, and I see no reason why we shouldn’t set that goal given where we are and the stature we have.”
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