Drake University alum and businessman Greg Johansen, left, received a baton from Drake University President Marty Martin to commemorate his $28 million gift to the university on May 14, 2024. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Drake University in Des Moines has exceeded fundraising goals for its campaign, “The Ones: Drake’s Campaign for the Brave and Bold,” with donations going to seven priorities touching on different areas of the institution.
The private university announced Monday that the campaign, launched in October 2021, has surpassed its $225 million goal by more than $40 million, currently sitting at just over $265 million. Close to 14,000 individual donors contributed to the campaign, according to a news release.
“This is an exciting moment in Drake’s history. The unprecedented success of The Ones campaign puts Drake on a bold path forward that will benefit students and the many communities we serve for generations to come,” said Drake University President Marty Martin in the release. “When Bulldogs unite with a shared passion and purpose, we accomplish incredible things. I am grateful for our generous donors who believe in our commitment to transform lives and strengthen communities through education, service, and research.”
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Nearly $96 million of campaign funding has gone to Drake’s seven colleges and schools, the release stated, along with almost $42 million for athletics and $67 million for capital projects. More than 330 scholarships have been created or expanded with $54 million in funding, and 73 $100,000 endowed scholarships spread across four areas have been developed.
The “Ones” campaign is broken down into seven priorities, each with initiatives and programs that receive funding through the donations. The Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy, Jay N. Darling Institute, and future Johansen Student Center have each raised millions for new initiatives, residencies and scholarships through the campaign, according to the release.
Other priorities focus on enhancing digital proficiency through combinations of liberal arts and analytics and technology teaching, furthering the idea of education for all through alternative education tracks and opportunities for students of all backgrounds. In addition, priorities include community engagement and entrepreneurial education, and ensuring the university’s commitment to “to fueling its academic and athletics programs to foster an education and experience that inspires students for a lifetime” stays strong, according to the release.
“This campaign has demonstrated that when we come together as one, there are no limits to what we can achieve,” said John Smith, vice president of university advancement, in the release. “We couldn’t have exceeded expectations without our dedicated team, including co-chairs Suzie Glazer Burt and Mark Ernst, as well as nearly 500 volunteers throughout the course of the campaign.”
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