Marian University breaks annual fundraising record
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Marian University is announcing the results of a record-breaking year in fundraising.
University officials say the institution raised $61.2 million over the 2022-2023 academic year in what is Marian’s single largest fundraising year in its history.
More than 4,400 donors contributed to the university’s ongoing Journey to 2030: Always Forward strategic plan, which launched last fall and seeks to raise $500 million by 2030.
With this year’s record fundraising, university officials say they have raised $296 million toward the $500 million goal.
“On behalf of Marian University, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our Board of Trustees, our leadership committee, and to the many donors who support Catholic higher education,” Marian University President Daniel Elsener said in a news release. “While Marian seeks to make an even more dramatic impact with our students and professions, and advance the common good, we have made tremendous progress this year and are very thankful to our donors and the community for their support.”
The Journey to 2030 plan calls for continued growth in enrollment, academic programs and scholarships — a priority for the university where 40% of students are eligible for federal Pell grants and 99% of undergraduate students receive some type of institutional based scholarship or grant funding.
The 2030 plan also will support the expansion of Marian’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, the advancement of the university’s new E.S. Witchger School of Engineering, as wells as other needs in the Fred S. Klipsch Educator’s College, the Byrum School of Business, athletics, health sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences.
The recent fundraising push marks a steady increase in financial support for the university over the years. Marian officials say the university secured just over a million dollars in 2002. This year, the said, the university average about $1 million a year.
Key Journey to 2030 donations so far include:
- U.S. Department of Education – $15.3 million
- Indiana Department of Education: Expanding Healthy Minds initiative – $10.7 million
- Michael Browning and Browning Family: Education Scholarships – $5 million
- Lilly Endowment: Science of Reading, Christian Parenting and College and Community Collaboration — $2.2M
- U.S. Department of Education: Expand Community Schools – $1.8 million
- Mike and Bea Becher: scholarships – $1 million
- Phil ‘81 and Teri ‘80 Carson: scholarships- $1 million
- Anonymous: Marian Athletics – $1 million
- Ascension Health: Health Sciences – $1 million
- Adrelean Stropki Family: Marian University Ancilla College scholarships – $1 million
More information about the Journey to 2030 strategic plan can be found on the university’s website at marian.edu/journeyto2030.