The receding economy has slowed planning for Eastern’s major comprehensive capital campaign, but the overall goal of the campaign should not be altered.

The campaign could likely raise $40 million to four different areas of the university.

“We are slowing down and that is fairly consistent with best practice across the United States right now,” said Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations.

The campaign is currently in a silent phase. In order to go live with the campaign, half of the overall goal must be met.

Karla Evans, director of the Office of Philanthropy, said the struggling economy has affected the launch date of the campaign.

“It has slightly postponed our launch,” she said. “We hope to be out of the silent phase and ready for public launch in April 2010.”

President Bill Perry said, in a silent phase, fundraisers in external relations are devoting their time to seeking commitments for larger gifts to the university.

Perry added, because of the economy, some donors might decide to delay giving a gift, but added donors remain committed to the university.

“I’m sure we’ll see a little slow down there, but that doesn’t mean we should slow down with planning either,” he said. “We need to keep moving forward.”

Evans said she expects the campaign to last about five years once it is launched.

She said the campaign would have four objectives. The money raised during the campaign would go toward students, faculty, programs and capital.

Money toward students entails scholarships and financial aid. Money toward faculty would go to professional development, such as conference trips and research opportunities. Money toward programs would go to academic programs. Money toward capital would go to improvement projects for Eastern facilities.

Evans said the deans of Eastern’s five colleges are assessing individual needs that would articulate the priority projects of each college.

“That will be like our wish lists,” she said. “It will be my job and my directors’ job to push those projects.”

Nilsen said the vice presidents are working within their areas to gauge their needs for the campaign. She said Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, is primarily doing this.

During campaigning, sometimes a donor specifically wants a gift to go toward a particular project. Evans said she and her directors would have to play the role of matchmaker in that instance. She added negotiation is open as long as the gift is going to help a student, faculty member, program or a building.

“I cannot think of hardly anything that would not fit in one of those four categories,” Evans said.

The steering committee of the campaign will ultimately make the official announcement to how much money the campaign will raise, Evans said.

Evans said the university would present different proposals to the committee about the overall goal and timeframe of the campaign on April 9. The committee is comprised of 20 volunteers connected to the university who have affluence and influence, meaning the volunteers are wealthy and know many people. To serve on the committee, each volunteer was asked to donate $100,000 to the campaign.

Evans said many times the volunteers are uncomfortable with asking people they know for money to a campaign. The volunteers, however, allow fundraisers at the university to meet more people, which could lead to more potential donors.

Perry said the overall goal of the campaign could also fluctuate. Depending on the future, the university might have a more aggressive goal.

“It’s going to depend upon our experiences over the next year in major gifts and commitments we’ve accrued,” Perry said.

Eastern’s last philanthropic campaign was in 2003. The three-year mini-campaign raised $11 million from 2003 to June 2006.

Evans said the economy has delayed the launch of the project, not the goal of the project. She said the economy has caused people to reflect on which charitable organizations are important to them.

“Folks who were spreading their philanthropy pretty wide have had to narrow that,” Evans said. “But we remain strong. Education remains very strong.”

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