Clearly Furman campaign passes 90% of alumni engagement goal

Clearly Furman, the Campaign for Our Third Century, has reached 90.6% of its goal of engaging 65% of alumni and has achieved 97.6% of its goal of reaching 22,500 donors. Alumni and friends of the university have given more than $357 million to date, which represents 84% of the campaign goal of $426 million by 2026.

Alumni engagement refers to volunteering, experiential (mentoring and providing internships,) giving and communication.

The campaign, which launched publicly in April, has six funding priorities, which were determined through conversations with the leadership, faculty and staff of the university. The priorities reflect the areas of Furman most impacted and enriched by philanthropic support and were defined to provide a broad, meaningful choice of opportunities that reflect all areas of the university. Learn more about the campaign’s funding priorities.

“Every gift to Furman impacts the university and is counted as part of the Clearly Furman campaign,” said Heidi McCrory, vice president for development. “The giving priorities of the campaign are important, though, not only because of the change they bring to Furman. Certainly, Furman will be enriched and strengthened by a successful campaign. Rather, the importance of the campaign is that the world will be positively changed through Furman and the impact our students will have on their professions, institutions, families and communities.”

• On Nov. 11, the Furman community celebrated the dedication of the Trone Center for Mental Fitness, made possible through a gift that supports the $30 million priority, Wellness, Belonging and Community: Make Personal Promise Matter. The $10 million gift from David ’77 and June Trone established the Trone Family Endowed Fund for Student Mental Health and Well-being, renovated the counseling center and will fund new positions, including a health promotions coordinator dedicated to providing programs, education and support for students. The gift also created the Hillel Endowment Fund to support a more robust Jewish life on campus and offer students a place to feel valued and welcomed through the Furman Hillel.
• Furman friends and alumni gathered on Nov. 8 at the International African American Museum in Charleston. The event featured the Furman Showcase “Back to Class without the Homework,” a panel and facilitated discussion with Courtney Tollison ’99, distinguished university public historian and scholar, Jeffrey Makala, associate director for special collections and archives and Judith Williams, assistant professor of anthropology. More events are planned.