Pledges and planned gifts have spiked in the week since the university launched its “EI&U” capital campaign.

Although an exact figure could not be given, Karla Evans, executive director of philanthropy, said there has been a significant increase because of the excitement surrounding the launch.

On Oct. 22, the university launched the “EI&U” campaign, which is the first comprehensive, university-wide approach to fund raising in the university’s history, aimed at funding student, faculty, facility and program support, said Bob Martin vice president for university advancement.

The intent behind the campaign was to bridge the margin of excellence for more school, faculty and program support, Martin said.

“(The university) can’t just rely on state support right now,” Martin said.

Planning began in July 2006 when the university had to first assess the feasibility of the campaign based on the alumni database and prospective pledges, Martin said.

National companies conduct this research for universities across the country when they plan this sort of undertaking, he said.

Martin said the $50 million mark was set based upon regular activity and evaluation by alumni as well as the Board of Trustees and other campus affiliates.

Evans said the $50 million goal is not the amount that the university will have in cash per se, but what amount is achieved by from pledges and planned gifts. This can also include a bequest in someone’s will to pledge money to the university, she said.

“We treat those who make those kind of pledges as if they were pledging today,” Evans said.

Faculty will be supported by the pledge funds by appointing faculty endowments and chairs that will increase Eastern’s ability to attract and retain quality faculty, Evans said.

These funds will help support the faculty’s research and creative obligations and service activities she said.

In the facility support division, raised funds will be funneled into projects like the new science center, with construction still pending due to budget constraints.

When asked if the state of the economy will impede the institution’s ability to reach that $50 million mark, both Evans and Martins agreed that the campaign will still be a success.

“Oh, we’ll make that mark,” Evans said. She recognized that economic hurdles may stand in the way, but the support of the university and alumni will make the goal feasible.

In reaching its $50 million goal, the office of university advancement will be relying heavily on their steering committee of alumni volunteers to network with members of their professional communities in order to solicit funds.

As both an alumna and parent of Eastern graduates, campaign chairperson Julie Nimmons, class of 1977, believes this $50 million goal is attainable because of Eastern’s attitude toward education.

“I believe in high retention, graduation and alumni satisfaction rates,” Nimmons said in the “EI&U” campaign booklet. “I believe in reaching goals witch include the growth of priority programs such as honors, study abroad, and faculty mentoring, as well as both faculty and student research.”

Evans said although there is a monetary goal for the campaign, the ultimate goal is to engage or re-engage Eastern alumni with the community.

“From these connections, we’ll be building the framework for our next capital campaign,” Evans said.

Evans said the way her office solicits funds is not by calling people over the telephone or sending them letters.

She does this “in their living rooms, at their kitchen tables. It’s about that face-to-face interaction,” she said.

Martin said the campaign will go national, stopping at different locations across the country including Los Angeles, St. Louis, Springfield and Washington, D.C.

The first regional stop will be on Dec. 14 in Chicago with steering committee members Timothy and Vickie (Krupp) Burke hosting the events.

“I’m very excited because this campaign will take Eastern to the next level of greatness,” Martin said. “We’re going to raise that money and we’re going to be successful.”

Shelley Holmgren can be reached at 581-7942 or meholmgren@eiu.edu