Just over three years ago, we announced the Rebuild My Church Capital Campaign. Our ambitious $75 million goal was more than double the amount of any campaign in our history. I’ll admit—I was a bit nervous. Some suggested we delay the kick-off to see how things settled post-pandemic. But after much discussion, prayer, and discernment, we felt the time was right to move forward. We believed the $75 million goal in honor of Franciscan University’s 75th anniversary would stretch us, but it was within reach.
We weren’t dreaming big enough—not even close.
On December 13, 2024, we officially brought the campaign to a close, having raised over $126 million. At the outset, we clearly underestimated your gener- osity. The more we shared Franciscan University’s mission and the more people caught the vision, the more we extended our goals! God kept opening doors, and more people wanted to be a part of what’s happening here.
I hardly know where to begin in thanking everyone who made this cam- paign such a success. A large part of it was due to the extraordinary generosity of our Board of Trustees, who collec- tively gave over $49 million and offered encouragement, advice, and vision every step of the way. I’m also incredibly proud of our alumni, who contributed over $28 million. And one of the most striking signs of God’s providence? The brand new donors we met during the campaign—people who had never given the nursing student educated in the new to Franciscan before—contributed over Christ the Teacher Hall, who will one day $25 million to this effort.
So many individuals gave so generously. And none of this would have been possible without our tireless Development Team, led by Vice President of Advancement Bob Hickey ’96 MBA ’01, who worked selflessly to ensure the success of this campaign. Special thanks also goes to Trustee Emeritus Paul Michael “Mickey” Pohl, our campaign chair, who gave wise advice and strong encouragement, and to the many trustees, alumni, and friends on the campaign’s Planning and Implementation Committee, whose suggestions, connections, and feedback assisted us all along this amazing journey.
Now, after all my talk about numbers, what I’m about to say might sound surprising, but it’s true: One reason the campaign succeeded so well was that we weren’t focused on numbers. Yes, numbers matter because they reflect the excitement and commitment of our supporters. But at its core, this campaign was always about something far greater: the mission of Franciscan University.
That mission is about educating and forming young men and women—not just to excel in their chosen fields, but to do so as joyful disciples of Jesus Christ. It’s about creating a community of faith where Christ is at the center of everything. It’s about the first-generation student who couldn’t attend Franciscan without scholarship support. It’s about the nursing student educated in the new Christ the Teacher Hall, who will one day care for her patients with deep compassion, faith, and kindness. It’s about the future entrepreneur coming up with an idea that will change the world for the good—and then making it happen.
From the very beginning of the Rebuild My Church Campaign, we prayed for one thing above all: to remain faithful to God’s will. This campaign wasn’t about clever ideas or creative strat- egies. It was about being led by the Lord and staying true to the mission he has entrusted to us. Franciscan University exists to form young men and women who will go out into a world that desper- ately needs what they have been given here—to go and rebuild our Church and our world.
Another chapter of Franciscan’s story has been written, and what a chapter it has been! But our story is far from over. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for the next chapter.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your prayers, generosity, and belief in the mission of Franciscan University. Together, we are making a difference that will echo for generations to come.
Blessings,
Father Dave, TOR
