University Park, PA (WJAC) — Penn State's latest university-wide fundraising campaign is "quietly" underway and is expected to be ongoing through the end of this decade.
This week, the Penn State trustees committee on outreach, development and community relations heard an update on the new fundraising campaign, which kicked off its “quiet phase” last July and isn't expected to wrap up until June of 2030, which will coincide with the 175th anniversary of the founding of Penn State.
Long term fundraising campaigns are not unusual at Penn State.
The last one went six years and ended last year with more than two billion dollars donated.
The financial goal for the new campaign has not been finalized yet, but it comes with higher education facing new challenges with declining enrollment and funding.
One of the priorities for the new Penn State fundraiser is for student scholarships, especially for first generation students.
Last month, at a state House hearing, Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi told lawmakers how state funding to Penn State is used to help in-state students.
“A greater investment in Penn State is vital. Please know that for every dollar you give us, we actually double it and pass it on as in state tuition discount.”
It is expected that the current fundraising campaign will remain in the “quiet phase” for several years.
The timetable for the public announcement is in the spring of 2026.
So far, this year alone, Penn State says $260 million in donations have been pledged to the university, from just over 177,000 donors.
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