A new fundraising campaign may bring in more than $40 million for improvement projects on campus.

The Office of Philanthropy is in the process of developing tentative plans for Eastern’s major comprehensive capital campaign, which is likely to raise a minimum of $40 million, said Karla Evans, director of the Office of Philanthropy.

She said President Bill Perry would put together a steering committee for the campaign during the summer, with the committee tentatively slated to meet for the first time in September.

Evans added the specific objectives of the campaign are still being developed, but said the overall objective would be to support Perry’s goal of making Eastern best in class in integrating the academic and personal development of students.

Perry listed that overall goal in his January campus-wide email, which outlined what he wants achieved during his time as president of Eastern.

“Any project that comes out of this campaign will be to achieve that objective,” Evans said.

She said the money the campaign raises might go to capital projects around campus such as building projects. Evans added planning for the campaign is slow because the office is waiting for academic departments to develop projects for the campaign

The money raised from the campaign might also go to endowment growth, Evans said.

She said the timeframe of the campaign is being tentatively planned, but added the campaign could last for five to seven years. Evans said, however, the timeframe will come closer to fruition in September, when the steering committee meets.

The steering committee will be comprised of around 25 individuals of influence and affluence of Eastern that will help the university raise money for the campaign, Evans said.

“It’s really a volunteer-driven group,” she said. “It’s a financial commitment. It’s a time commitment, and we would consider it to be a honor to be a part of that group.”

Evans added an external source might be brought in to advise the committee, and to advise the office, the deans and whoever else might be internally involved throughout the campaign as well.

“The consultant would be the expert that comes in and gives us recommendations to how to proceed,” she said.

Eastern’s last philanthropic campaign was in 2003.

In that year, the office engineered a three-year mini-campaign, with a goal to raise $10 million. The “You are EIU” campaign, which concluded in June 2006, ended up raising $11 million.

Evans said the upcoming campaign’s success depends on the effort of the entire university. She added she is optimistic that it will be successful because she feels the different constituents of the university are working well together to achieve Perry’s best-in-class goal.

“We are all rowing down the river toward the same goals,” Evans said. “It’s an exciting time.”

Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.

The Office of Philanthropy hopes to raise at least $40 million with its next capital campaign. President Bill Perry will create a campaign committee this summer. (Photo Illustration by Bryce Peake/The Daily Eastern News)

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