CSU-Pueblo Foundation’s On the Move campaign
The Colorado State University-Pueblo Foundation’s “On the Move” campaign is ahead of schedule. The campaign, which will fund scholarships, the Occhiato University Center renovation and new and improved athletic programs, is already 40 percent complete.
The Foundation estimates that it will take a total of three years to reach its overall goal of $25 million. Introduced in August 2013 and beginning its second year, the campaign has raised $10.3 million to date.
In the year since the campaign was introduced, the Foundation has attracted 650 new donors.
“The campaign has engaged new donors, and new alumni donors in particular, who are considering the future of this institution,” CSU-Pueblo President Lesley Di Mare said in a press release.
The Foundation has also been able to retain the support of 854 pre-existing donors.
It still needs to raise $15 million over the next two years in order to reach its end goal.
“We still have a lot of work to do. We still need a lot of people’s help,” said Todd Kelly, CEO and president of the Foundation.
If the goal is reached, $15 million of the “On the Move” funds will go to scholarships, $5 million to athletics and $5 million to the OUC renovation.
The $5 million that will go to athletics will be split in half to accommodate athletic scholarships and an overall athletic expansion.
The university is introducing six new sports and plans to make improvements to the soccer and lacrosse field with the help of the Foundation’s funding.
Improvements in the OUC will include a 76,000-square-foot expansion, which will comprise of new options for dining on campus, study areas, a ballroom and conference rooms.
Kelly says the Foundation will continue to use mass marketing strategies to attract donors. One such method is “First and Ten for Education.”
The program asks potential donors to contribute $10 to the campaign by texting the Foundation on the first Friday of every month. The $10 would be tacked onto a donor’s phone bill and eventually find its way to the general scholarship fund.
“A $10 gift is a big gift,” Kelly said. “I am thankful for everybody that has donated to the campaign.”
Kelly encourages everyone to donate to the campaign, even students.
“It doesn’t take a whole lot if we collectively come together as a community,” he said.
“Every gift we get is very important. It doesn’t matter if it’s $10 from a student or $10 million from a former alum. Every gift we get we cherish.”
Donations to the campaign can be made at csuponthemove.org.