School’s donation campaign reaches $165M

St. Mary’s University has raised $165 million in its largest-ever fundraising campaign — $35 million more than the original goal.

School officials joined community members Friday evening to celebrate the announcement, which University President Thomas Mengler called a “historic moment for St. Mary’s.”

“So it is a defining moment,” he added. “For generations of alumni, their time at St. Mary’s has been a defining moment, it’s been transformative. … The campaign and its success is really a reflection of our graduates’ gratitude to the Marianists and to the faculty and staff.”

The Defining Moment Comprehensive Campaign was launched in 2017, aiming to raise $130 million. The focus, officials said, was to promote a culture of excellence in teaching, research and service; deepen the university’s Catholic and Marianist identity and prepare students for success and a lifelong vocational journey.

By 2019, the university announced it had reached $139 million and raised its goal to $150 million. That was months before the coronavirus pandemic forced a switch in techniques — dropping in-person events and campus visits and a new reliance on phone calls and virtual meetings.

In all, 11,494 donors responded and 39 of them gave $1 million or more, officials said. About 2,200 made gifts of $1,000 or more, and 4,900 gave amounts less than $100.

“There was never any doubt that with the right amount of relationships and reaching out, that we would be able to attain this goal,” said Leti Contreras, a 1989 graduate who chairs the university’s board of trustees, herself a donor.

“The St. Mary’s mission is there to provide access to an excellent education for everyone — not just one student, but all,” said Lynda Ellis, a campaign donor who graduated in 1981 and is now on the board.

As of last fall, the university