University Raises $230 Million, Campaign Sets New Record for Giving

St. Lawrence University has exceeded its goal for The Campaign for Every Laurentian, raising $230 million in gifts and commitments during the University’s largest comprehensive fundraising initiative in the institution’s 165-year history. University President William L. Fox ’75 announced the news during the St. Lawrence virtual Laurentian Celebration on Wednesday, June 16.

With the announcement, St. Lawrence celebrates the success of a six-year, comprehensive fundraising campaign that set an impressive University record for giving, surpassed financial goals, forged new bonds among members of its top-ranked global alumni network, and demonstrated an overwhelming endorsement of the University’s core liberal arts mission.

“Truly, this is an extraordinary achievement by our cherished St. Lawrence community,” President Fox said. “I am personally and forever grateful to every Laurentian whose support has made an indelible statement about our University’s importance to the world.”

The Campaign’s success involved every Laurentian from students and parents to alumni and employees. More than 20,000 donors made over 70,000 individual gifts to St. Lawrence and The Campaign while 72 percent of faculty and staff also made financial contributions to the fundraising efforts.

The Campaign was created to generate support for St. Lawrence priorities or “Big Ideas:” Endowing Our Future, Learning for the 21st Century, Power of Connections, Campus Stewardship, and the St. Lawrence Fund, which sustains yearly University operations—including the fulfillment of its liberal arts mission. As The Campaign entered its final chapters, emerging priorities that rose to the forefront for the University community and students were added to The Campaign efforts, including the newly named Fox Center for Academic Opportunity, diversity and inclusion, and health and wellness.

The University received hundreds of major gifts ($100,000 to $1 million) and dozens of principal gifts ($1 million or more), while individual donations of up to $1,000 totaled nearly $8 million. Giving from Laurentian parents exceeded $37 million, and the University’s endowment also grew to nearly $400 million.

“Through this campaign, every part of this Laurentian community has invested in the next generation of critical thinkers and problem-solvers because they know St. Lawrence prepares its students to make a difference and facilitate change where it’s needed most,” said Sarah Johnson ’82, P’15, co-chair of The Campaign. “That’s a powerful testament to the St. Lawrence experience and the people, programs, and vision that make it possible.”

Eight of the ten largest gifts in the University’s history were made during this Campaign, including an unrestricted gift of $25 million, the largest donation in St. Lawrence history from Johnson and her parents, Charles and Ann. A $15 million gift from an anonymous alumnus created two endowed professorships in public health, while a $10 million gift from Trustee Michael W. Ranger ’80, P’17 and Virginia R. Ranger P’17 funded a scholarship, a professorship, and the renovation of the University’s original Herring Library to be renovated. Tom Dolan ’74 and the Dolan Family Foundation’s $10 million gift fueled the renovation of the historic Appleton Arena, home to the Skating Saints’ NCAA Division I men’s and women’s ice hockey teams.

“More than 3,000 volunteers—including our major and planned gift committee, trustees, annual fund and reunion planners, event hosts, career mentors, internship hosts, panelists, and more—took the time to reach out to their peers in this community,” said Jay Ireland ’77, P’00, who served as Campaign co-chair with Johnson. “I’m grateful to these Laurentians and their tireless efforts in making The Campaign a success and ensuring St. Lawrence’s strength for the next generation of Laurentians.”

The Campaign for Every Laurentian concludes June 30, 2021.