Clemson hits fundraising goal

Clemson University said Friday it surpassed its goal of raising $600 million in private funds and is now seeking $400 million more. The funds support scholarships and professorships as well as facility and technology upgrades.

Staff Report
Published July 23, 2012

Clemson University President James Barker said Friday the university surpassed its goal of raising $600 million in private funds over the past two years and is now seeking $400 million more.

The funds support scholarships and professorships as well as facility and technology upgrades.

Barker said the university’s Will to Lead campaign was its most successful ever, raising more than $608.8 million. To date, 357 new scholarships and fellowships have been created; and 95 faculty positions and support, such as endowed chairs and professorships, have received funding.

Some of the campaign achievements are increasing the university's endowment by $73 million, increasing annual giving for academic programs and providing funding for new or renovation and expansion of athletic facilities.

There were more than 201,000 unique gifts to the campaign.

“Like our founder Thomas Green Clemson, who gave us the will to lead so many years ago, the human effort put forth during the last six years shows a fierce determination to improve education and prosperity for all South Carolinians and people around the world,” Barker said.

The university’s new campaign goal is $1 billion.

Trustee Smyth McKissick of Greenville, a 1979 Clemson graduate and president of Alice Manufacturing Co. Inc., chaired the national campaign committee through the public phase that began two years ago and will continue in that role.

“The goals of this campaign go to the very core of what makes Clemson Clemson: students and faculty, intellectual development and economic development,” McKissick said. “I’m proud to say that more than 100 volunteers have worked to help Clemson exceed its goal. Now we want to continue and involve everyone in building Clemson’s future. With our determined spirit, we can reach our new goal.”