Franciscan University’s Rebuild My Church Capital Campaign ended on December 10, 2024, having raised $51 million above its goal. Some might deservedly rest on those laurels, but Vice President of Advancement Bob Hickey ’96 MBA ’01 and his team have kept the momentum going, inviting generous new gifts and starting to outline the next campaign.
Recently, Hickey sat down with Franciscan Magazine to share what goes on in between campaigns, why Franciscan needs a bigger endowment, and his sense of urgency about funding future growth.
The Rebuild My Church Campaign ended, but Franciscan has continued to receive funds. What is the campaign total now?
Officially, the campaign closed with $126.1 million contributed by our amazingly generous friends, alumni, faculty, and staff. Unofficially, we have been blessed with $9 million since then, making the actual total $135 million. Those additional funds included a transformational gift from the Robert W. Plaster Foundation, which covered the remaining balance on Christ the Teacher Hall.
I’m so grateful to say, with special thanks for the strong leadership of our president, Father Dave [Pivonka, TOR ’89], Rebuild My Church was on time, under budget, and all the case components were fully funded.
Then, why do you feel such an urgency about increasing donors and gifts?
With the growth Franciscan University has experienced in enrollment, as well as the great initiatives we have going on the academic and evangelistic fronts, we’re having to play catch up.
We not only need funding to sustain everything we’re already committed to doing; we also hear God calling us to do even more. Frankly, our endowment isn’t where it should be for a university of this size, and that limits our ability to respond quickly to new opportunities. The good news? Mostly through FaithandReason.com, we’re now introducing about 8,000 new people each month to all Franciscan University has to offer, and many of them have already become supporters! That will be a huge advantage in the next campaign.
You recently launched a feasibility study. How will its results shape the next campaign?
A feasibility study is a foundational way to invite friends, alumni, and parents into the visioning process of what’s next for the University—and what it will take to fulfill that vision.
Through the feasibility study, we have begun reaching out to our closest friends and our most generous supporters. Everyone who participates will answer questions about the vision of the University, what they believe the next priorities are, what they believe the urgency is for each priority, and if they are willing to support the next campaign, what that might look like. After we’ve interviewed about 100 people in person, and thousands more electronically, we can be very confident as we approach the Board of Trustees with the campaign needs and goals.
What can you share about the proposed 400-bed residence hall on lower campus?
I’m happy to say the Board of Trustees approved it! We’ll begin work as soon as students vacate the existing residence halls this May. We have the very ambitious goal of a fall 2027 opening due to the ongoing growth of our student population.
For that reason, the residence hall will be financed, with only a few parts being funded through the campaign. Folks will have the chance to fund the bridge that connects upper campus to the residence hall, for example. We’re also wide open, if, say, someone wants to contribute for the right to name a common room for their household or for another naming opportunity.
What are other projects under consideration for the next campaign?
There are several things I’d put under the umbrella of upgrading and beautifying campus and improving the student life experience.
If we do one thing well, it’s forming our students. We can do that even better if two of our older residence halls—Marian and Trinity—receive significant renovations.
In that same vein, the J.C. Williams Center is just not large enough for today’s enrollment numbers, so the campaign will need to cover a significant expansion and renovation.
A combined athletic and conference center should also be included due to the staggering volume of activities hosted in Finnegan Fieldhouse. It will come as a relief to players and coaches to hold fewer 6:00 a.m. practices and to have space to play intramural games before 10:00 p.m.
Also, we haven’t forgotten our Austrian Study Abroad Program, which has had a life-changing impact on thousands of students since 1991. We have plenty of needs in Gaming, and the most pressing will rise to the top through the feasibility study.
What about academics?
Rebuild My Church focused heavily on academics with the addition of Christ the Teacher Hall and enhancements to many programs. We’ll keep up the momentum to strengthen our academic rigor with initiatives like endowed faculty chairs, with the emphasis this time on the student experience needs.
Will financial aid also be part of the campaign?
Student financial aid is the steady heartbeat of our fundraising efforts. We will always need money to make college financially viable for every student no matter his or her financial situation.
During the next campaign, we will ask donors to keep that heart beating by tithing 10 percent of their gift to our Step in Faith Annual Fund. If they choose to do so, their $10,000 gift, for example, would have $9,000 going to their designated need and $1,000 toward financial aid. We hope this practice will keep financial aid front and center.
Why are estate gifts especially important?
Estate gifts show such trust and hope in God and in the mission of Franciscan University. I find it touching and humbling when people make provision for us as part of their final wishes.
We expect to include $25 million as a planned giving goal. That means we will invite donors—so many of whom have been transformed and nurtured through Franciscan—to include the University in their estate plans and secure their charitable legacy.
How do planned gifts bolster our endowment fund?
For the size of the University and number of students today, our endowment is simply not big enough to provide the operational and financial aid relief we need. Most of the endowment funds are restricted to specific uses, so we don’t have the flexibility to jump on unexpected opportunities or quickly address issues that arise. All planned gifts in the upcoming campaign will be earmarked for the Be Light Endowment. Just as the Step in Faith Fund helps us today, the Be Light Endowment will fortify the University financially for all the tomorrows God has for Franciscan.
