Unstoppable Campaign reaches its goal.

[TherapyBull]

As of June 30 the capital campaign surpassed $621 million.

They have proven the can raise some money, hopefully a stadium fund will be added to Unstoppable II.

What a great way to stoke interest in Athletics.

[Rizman]

Does not go to Athletics that is why the raised so much.

[RG]

Not true.  The $621 million includes money that was raised by athletics.

 

http://tbteedition.tampabay.com/ee/tampabaytimes/publink.php?shareid=01892ceff

 

USF beats fundraising goal. As of June 30, it had exceeded its $600M target by $21M. In the midst of a recession in 2009, University of South Florida officials set their most ambitious public fundraising goal ever - $600 million in donations. They have finally hit that number, and then some.

The USF Foundation, a nonprofit entity that handles private gifts for USF, announced Wednesday that, as of June 30, the capital campaign surpassed $621 million from some of Tampa Bay's biggest benefactors. The USF: Unstoppable campaign drew more than 140,000 donors, raising $34 million for faculty chairs and professorships and $325 million for academic programs. More than $75 million funded scholarships, including $1 million from USF president Judy Genshaft and her husband, Steven Greenbaum, for students to study abroad. More than $170 million went to USF Health endeavors. Donations from Frank and Carol Morsani led to the naming of the Morsani College of Medicine and a new six-story healthcare building in their name.

Almost $40 million went to USF athletics, much of it for facilities with donor names attached - Pam and Les Muma Basketball Center, Corbett Soccer Stadium, Gonzmart Family Plaza, Chowdhari Golf Center, Frank Morsani Football Practice Complex. Tom James, executive chairman of Raymond James Financial, funded the forthcoming James Tennis Center. An additional $140 million funded facilities including the Patel Center for Global Solutions in Tampa and the Sembler Family Fountain and Plaza at USF St. Petersburg. Four years before the official launch, USF officials lined up top donors and began raising starter funds, metaphorically padding the tip jar to encourage others to give. By the time the campaign went public in 2009, USF already had raised more than $300 million. USF alums hosted parties. Fundraisers built relationships with donors, trying to decipher passions and motivations.

'It's a very scientific approach, but there's a lot of art to fundraising, too,' said Joel Momberg, chief executive officer of the USF Foundation. 'They could be an alum. They could be someone who sees the university as the economic engine for the area. You may work with that donor for months or maybe for a couple years.' But there was no denying the economic reality of the times, and donations lagged for two years of the campaign. The state suspended most donation matching, and some colleges scaled back or abandoned fundraising campaigns. 'We had to make some strong decisions whether we'd keep going or whether we'd stop the campaign,'Momberg said. Rather than pull out of promises, he said, donors asked to wait until business got better, or give partial donations. In 2011, the campaign turned around. Donations totaled more than $111 million in a single year. 'When you have a culture of giving the way we have with this campaign, you want it to continue,' said Momberg. 'There very likely will be an Unstoppable II.'

By Stephanie Hayes

[Skingraft]

I got 5 on it

[charsibb]

Go Bulls Go!

[NewEnglandBull]

After hearing all of those millions it makes my $200 donation seem like bar tip.

[Ricky the Bull]

After hearing all of those millions it makes my $200 donation seem like bar tip.

 

It all adds up!  Thanks for your contribution!

[Hem]

but but but but we're so broke! We can't afford anything! Haven't you heard from all the negative nancies on this board??

 

Just raised over a 1/2 billion dollars.

[Gismo]

This is actually really impressive. 

[bullsbucsfan426]

After hearing all of those millions it makes my $200 donation seem like bar tip.

Don't feel bad, we give what we can. It's great to have big donors but you can't develop a donor base without the small guys.