Eastern’s Expect Greatness campaign went beyond the estimated goal and raised a total of $63,696,747.

President Bill Perry said the campaign has been going on since 2006 because it is a comprehensive campaign and is ongoing.

“We are seeking support for students, faculty, facilities and programs,” he said.

Perry said the types of gifts people donate to the campaign include cash gifts, a cash pledge, land or a planned gift such as putting Eastern in their will.

The funds will be used for things such as scholarships, faculty research and study abroad programs.

“There are a number of ways that giving has an impact on the university,” he said.

Perry said all universities use the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s guidelines for calculating and achieving the amount of money raised in the campaign.

“Most universities will begin the process with a consultant,” he said. “They meet with the donor base confidentially and will test the case for your university, the need for your funding and the confidence of the donors.”

After that, the steering committee will set a goal total and begin raising funds.

“Once you get to 60 percent of your goal, that’s when you announce and kick off your campaign,” Perry said.

In Eastern’s case, a $50 million goal was set to be achieved by the end of June 2014.

Bob Martin, the vice president for University Advancement, said after assessment, they realized donors could make large commitments.

“We raised over $63 million dollars on a $50 million goal,” Martin said. “One-third of that is planned gifts, which means people thought enough of their time at Eastern to remember us in their final estate plans.”

Though the university will not see that money right away, Martin said that portion of the campaign is part of the reason it was such a success.

Martin said there were more than 43,000 gifts donated to the campaign.

“We used to average about $3 million a year in gifts and pledges,” Martin said. “However, during the campaign we raised $9.6 million two years ago, and a record $13.8 million last year,” he said.

The three goals of the campaign were set at the beginning of the campaign in 2006.

Martin said these three include increasing alumni contacts, increasing volunteer relationships and achieving the goal of $50 million.

“Our alumni value their experience at Eastern so much and it meant a lot to them, so they want their university to continue to be great,” Martin said. “Our theme was ‘expect greatness’ and our alums stepped up to the plate and said they want Eastern to continue to be great.”

Martin praised everyone who donated to the campaign, and said a stewardship tour is being planned to thank everyone for what they did for Eastern.

“Donors need to know the influence they’ve had on students for generations to come,” he said. “That money can go a very long way.”

Perry said although the country has been suffering financially throughout the campaign, it did not affect the outcome or success of the campaign.

“What happened was, even though we started this in a recession, the loyalty, dedication and faith of the alumni and friends of the university led to use getting to more than $63 million a year and a half early,” Perry said.

Achieving such a high amount was a 27 percent increase, Perry said, and Eastern celebrated Friday night with a barbecue and fireworks, along with displaying a banner of the total amount raised at halftime of Saturday’s football game.

“All universities do this, but this was our first (campaign),” he said. “It was a big step for us, but the success has made us very pleased.”

Robyn Dexter can be reached at 581-2812 or redexter@eiu.edu.