DePauw's 'Leadership for a New Century' Far Exceeds Expectations

April 11, 2000

April 11, 2000, Greencastle, Ind. - Alumni and friends of DePauw University more than doubled their fund-raising goal for The Campaign for DePauw: Leadership for a New Century, reaching more than $376 million -- the largest campaign total achieved by a liberal arts college in the country. In response to surpassing the campaign goal, the trustees voted to officially conclude the campaign with a weekend celebration on April 28 and 29 with a gala Friday evening followed by several events scheduled on the Greencastle campus Saturday.

"DePauw's alumni and friends can take enormous pride in having established a foundation on which we can continue to build both the effectiveness and reputation of the DePauw experience," said Andrew J. Paine, Jr., chair of the campaign and retired president and chief executive officer of NBD, N.A. (Indiana).

The Campaign for DePauw was launched publicly in October 1996 with an initial goal of $153 million. In October 1998, after the first two installments of what became ultimately a $128 million estate gift from Mr. and Mrs. Philip Holton, the campaign goal was raised to $300 million. At that time, the Holtons' gift was the seventh largest single gift to any institution of higher education. The Holtons were both members of the DePauw University class of 1929. Mr. Holton was president and CEO of Inland Container Corporation in Indianapolis, retiring in 1975.

Timothy H. Ubben, chair of DePauw board of trustees and retired chairman of Lincoln Capital Management in Chicago, said, "One and one-half years ago, buoyed by the historic bequest of Ruth Clark and Philip Holton, the goal of the campaign was raised to $300 million. More importantly, our vision was lifted, too. Rather than seeking to retain the place DePauw had gained among liberal arts colleges, the trustees and campus community led the entire DePauw family in setting our sights on the first rank of liberal arts colleges of national significance." 

Of the more than $374 million contributed:

• $161 million (including all $128 million of the Holtons' gift) has been designated by donors for scholarship endowment.
• More than $30 million will endow support for the faculty and academic programs.
• $5 million contributed by the family of Eugene S. Pulliam will support the Eugene S. Pulliam Visiting Professorship in Journalism, which brings outstanding professionals to the DePauw University for semester- or year-long appointments. Eugene Pulliam, who died in January 1999, was publisher of the Indianapolis Star and News.
• More than $103 million of the commitments are deferred and will come to the University through the estates of donors.
• $22.3 million was restricted for campus and facility projects.

Since the campaign began, alumni and friends have contributed more than $17 million to the Annual Fund, which supports the budget for faculty salaries, student scholarships and instructional support. "The gifts donors have made in this campaign have been invested at the very heart of teaching and learning -- in students and faculty," said Robert G. Bottoms, president of DePauw University.

"These gifts make it possible for us to say that any student qualified to do the work a DePauw degree requires can apply with full assurance that we can meet their demonstrated financial need." President Bottoms continued, "I believe the success of The Campaign for DePauw will dramatically help the University, its students faculty and alumni take an even greater leadership role in the 21st century."

Founded in 1837, DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., is a selective, coeducational, liberal arts university with nationally recognized academic programs. DePauw guarantees graduation in four years for students in 40 standard programs, or the university will waive tuition and fees for any subsequent course work necessary for graduation.

Fortune magazine in 1990 ranked DePauw 11th among all colleges and universities in the nation in terms of the likelihood that its graduates will become chief executive officers of top American companies. DePauw ranks 16th in the nation among private liberal arts colleges and universities as the baccalaureate source for Ph.D. degrees in all fields, according to a 1998 survey by Franklin and Marshall College.

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