The NDSU Foundation and Alumni Association and the university are moving forward with plans to launch the most ambitious philanthropic campaign in NDSU history.

The NDSU Foundation and Alumni Association Executive Governing Board have approved a consulting firm’s recommendation that sets an initial working goal of raising between $300 million and $400 million as part of a seven-year, comprehensive campaign.

NDSU President Dean Bresciani and Steve Swiontek, chairman of the Foundation’s governing board, said the campaign will fully reflect NDSU’s vision, ensuring that gifts support the university’s priorities and move NDSU forward with purpose.

“NDSU continues to make great advances in its mission as a student-focused, land-grant research university ranked in the top 100 colleges and universities in the nation,” Bresciani said. “This campaign will allow us to continue building on our progress, with a sharp focus on investments in our people.

“With this campaign, we can increase scholarship and endowment funds that empower our talented students and faculty to achieve new heights,” Bresciani said. “We can deepen our students’ educational experience; we can build on our distinguished research activities; and we can accelerate NDSU’s important work in solving the problems that challenge our state, nation and world.”

The consulting firm, Bentz Whaley Flessner, has recommended that the Foundation develop a phased campaign. While a public launch date has yet to be determined, the Foundation and university leaders have begun working with benefactors regarding their support for the campaign.

“We firmly believe that the timeline is right for a major campaign,” Swiontek said. “As the largest philanthropic effort in NDSU history, this campaign will strengthen the university’s academic programs and support students and research, which in turn will transform lives for years to come.”

The NDSU Foundation hired Bentz Whaley Flessner in 2016 to develop a campaign feasibility study and recommendations which were presented Friday. The firm’s analysis found that NDSU has a dedicated and loyal base of alumni and other supporters who represent a strong foundation for a successful campaign.

The last major campaign for NDSU concluded in 2007, with nearly $110 million in gifts and commitments secured for the university.