Jacksonville University Achieves Historic $175 Million FUTURE. MADE. Campaign Goal

Jacksonville University has announced the successful completion of its FUTURE. MADE. comprehensive campaign, surpassing its $175 million goal in the largest fundraising achievement in the university's history. The milestone, made possible through the generosity of donors, alumni, trustees and community partners, represents a transformative decade of growth for the institution. Jacksonville University simultaneously announced an expansion of its comprehensive campaign to a new $250 million goal through FUTURE. RISING., a $75 million extension of the original target, dedicated to expanding scholarship access for students with demonstrated financial need.

Launched publicly in October 2023, the FUTURE. MADE. campaign exceeded its $175 million target four years ahead of its original goal, which was by the end of the decade. FUTURE. MADE. also surpassed the previous ASPIRE campaign total in 2018 of $121 million and delivered significant investments in academics, facilities, athletics, student support and applied learning. FUTURE. RISING. builds on that momentum with a singular focus: ensuring that a student's financial circumstance does not determine the ceiling of their ambition.

"When we launched FUTURE. MADE., we made a promise to this university and to the people who believe in it," said Tim Cost, president of Jacksonville University. "Today, we celebrate the fulfillment of that promise. Reaching $175 million is the most significant fundraising achievement in Jacksonville University's history, and it belongs to every person who believed in what this place could become. FUTURE. RISING. is our commitment to what comes next, to ensuring that the students who follow have every opportunity to rise, lead and continue to strengthen the region with workforce-ready, global citizens."

The FUTURE. RISING. campaign's flagship initiative, Scholars of Distinction, is designed to provide need-based scholarship support to students who demonstrate both financial need and the potential to succeed. Jacksonville University currently provides more than $67 million in scholarships and grants annually, and the new campaign aims to significantly expand that investment.

"The achievement of FUTURE. MADE. is a testament to Tim and Stephanie Cost's extraordinary leadership and love for this institution," said John Miller, chair of the Jacksonville University Board of Trustees and FUTURE. MADE. campaign tri-chair. "The $175 million we celebrate today is their legacy, and it is one this institution will build upon for decades."

A transformational gift from Lee and Becky Nimnicht carried the campaign across its $175 million finish line. Their generosity reflects the spirit of committed donors whose investment in Jacksonville University has made the FUTURE. RISING. expansion possible.

President Cost will move into the role of Chancellor of Jacksonville University on July 1, 2026. Dr. Lisa Sutherland, founding executive director of the Cost Honors College and interim dean of the Davis College of Business and Technology, will assume the role of interim president.

"The foundation President Cost has built over the last 14 years has positioned Jacksonville University to build on its remarkable achievements and extend that momentum in keeping students at the center of everything we do," said Dr. Lisa Sutherland, incoming interim president of Jacksonville University. "Scholarships are an investment in our students and our future. When a student feels seen, valued and supported, there is no limit to what they can achieve."

Watch Here: FUTURE. RISING. Video

About FUTURE. RISING.

The success of the FUTURE. MADE. campaign affirmed that what Jacksonville Universitybuilds today shapes the future that follows. FUTURE. RISING. extends that vision by investing in the students who will carry that future forward. Building on the $175 million achieved through FUTURE. MADE., the expanded campaign sets a new $250 million goal - with $25 million dedicated specifically to scholarship support through the Scholars of Distinction initiative. Scholarships provide talented students with opportunities to pursue their ambitions and develop as leaders prepared to make an impact on their communities. As they rise, so does the impact of Jacksonville University. To learn more or to make a gift, visit ju.edu/give.