SDSU sets record $200 million campaign goal

South Dakota State University leaders announced Thursday that they are increasing the university’s campaign goal to $200 million and the gifts and pledges received to date have set a fundraising record for South Dakota higher education.

“In true South Dakota State University fashion, we are setting our sights even higher. Frankly, it’s in our Jackrabbit DNA to strive to be the best, to confront challenges head on, to be the trailblazer,” SDSU alumnus Dana Dykhouse told a crowd of alumni, students and political and business leaders who packed into the Student Union to hear the historic announcement. (Click here to see the event video)

In April 2008, the SDSU Foundation’s Council of Trustees voted unanimously to establish a working goal of $175 million to $190 million. At Thursday’s announcement, university leadership reminded the crowd that the working goal was set only months before the nation was confronted with one of most challenging economic conditions in decades.

 “It is a testament to SDSU supporters that the campaign goal has been increased without having to extend the original six-year timeline,” said Dykhouse, one of three co-chairs for the university’s comprehensive campaign.

It Starts with STATE: A Campaign for South Dakota State University has raised more than $137.2 million in gifts and pledges since January 1, 2007. That total, achieved in less than four years, tops the previous record for an in-state university campaign – $133.9 million over a nine-year period. The campaign to raise $200 million will occur over six years, concluding in 2012.

The record fundraising has come from 18,361 unique donors who have made a collective 65,181 gifts. The gifts range from a $15 million investment by Avera Health to first-time donations by 2009 graduates.

 “The response by alumni and friends of South Dakota State University has been unprecedented,” Dykhouse said. “They have responded to the university’s vision of providing greater opportunities to students through scholarships and to stimulate economic growth through expanded research and new academic initiatives.”

 “For all of our successes,” he said, “we recognize that our work is far from over and we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Dykhouse, president & CEO of First PREMIER Bank of Sioux Falls, is joined by Jerry Lohr, president and founder of J. Lohr Winery of California, and Al Kurtenbach, co-founder and board chairman of Daktronics of Brookings, as campaign co-chairs. Dykhouse and Lohr are graduates of SDSU; Kurtenbach is a former faculty member.

This is the second comprehensive campaign in SDSU’s history. The “Visions for the Future” campaign (1994-98) exceeded its goal of $50 million, raising $52 million. Lohr was chairman of that campaign.

 “There are so many things needed to be successful in a fundraising endeavor like this,” said Jake Krull, chairman of the SDSU Foundation. “It starts with great leadership and we have that in our university president.”

SDSU President David L. Chicoine initiated a campus-wide strategic planning process when he arrived in 2007. Faculty, staff, administrators, students, alumni and community leaders worked together to identify the university’s needs and to create a vision for its future. The process led to investment opportunities in five distinct areas.