University of Evansville Announces Final Total of Historic FORWARD Campaign: $133,300,829Read full article…

Posted: Monday, July 13, 2026
By: Ian Leonhardt, Advancement Communications Coordinator

The University of Evansville (UE) has completed and officially closed its historic FORWARD Campaign, with donors generously providing $133,300,829 in philanthropic support to expand scholarship support, strengthen academic and community programming, invest in faculty and teaching, enhance learning and athletic facilities, and support the student experience.

The campaign surpassed its $125 million goal in February 2026, a milestone first announced during UE's 1854 Society Dinner. FORWARD represents the largest comprehensive fundraising effort in University history and is believed to be the largest completed campaign in Southwestern Indiana history. Launched publicly in 2022 following a leadership fundraising phase that began in 2019, FORWARD brought together alumni, friends, parents, faculty, staff, foundations, and community partners in support of UE's future. In total, nearly 16,000 donors made 48,461 gifts across more than 500 giving areas across the University.

"FORWARD was never only about reaching a number," said University of Evansville President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. "It was about what that number would make possible for our students, our faculty, and the University's future. Because of the generosity of our donors, this campaign has opened doors, strengthened academic and campus experiences, and affirmed the deep commitment so many people have to the University of Evansville."

Built around three priorities, the campaign focused on powering a transformative and accessible education, bringing academics to life, and fueling faculty who discover, teach, and mentor. Through those priorities, donors invested in scholarships, academic programs, faculty development, athletics, campus spaces, hands-on learning opportunities, and mission-centered giving to operate and strengthen the University.

Campaign support included nearly $40 million to grow the University's endowment, nearly $23 million for facilities and capital improvements, and more than $71 million in mission-centered giving through restricted and unrestricted philanthropy. This support reached all 17 Division I varsity sports, Harlaxton College, faculty development and student research, the Center for Innovation and Change, and many other areas across the University.

The impact of FORWARD can be seen across the University, from expanded scholarship support through 54 newly established scholarships to facility enhancements and projects such as the UE Emily M. Young Mental Health Clinic, Wheeler Concert Hall, the Begle Family Sports Performance Center, the Kyle and Ashley Freeland Baseball Clubhouse, and the IN-MaC Design and Innovation Training Studio.

FORWARD also supported academic growth through new and expanded programs, including the Koch Family Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, Nurse Anesthesia, and Construction Management programs.

These outcomes reflect not only what FORWARD achieved, but also the foundation it created for continued philanthropic support at UE.

"The success of the FORWARD Campaign reflects what is possible when people who love the University of Evansville come together around a shared belief in its mission and its students," said Abigail Werling M'09, Vice President for University Advancement. "We are deeply grateful to all who helped make this achievement possible. As we celebrate the close of this campaign, we also look ahead with gratitude and purpose, knowing there will be continued opportunities for philanthropy to strengthen UE and shape what comes next."

The campaign was led by Campaign Co-Chairs Randall Alsman and Paul Jones '71, both members of the University's Board of Trustees. Their leadership, alongside the dedicated work of the National Campaign Steering Committee and the generosity of donors across the country, helped carry FORWARD to a successful close.

As UE's FORWARD Campaign comes to a close, philanthropy remains vital to the University's future. This effort demonstrated what donor support can make possible while also underscoring the continued need to invest in UE's students, faculty, programs, operations, and emerging priorities. The momentum created through FORWARD will carry UE into its next phase of philanthropy, advancing student success, strengthening academic and campus experiences, and positioning the University to pursue emerging opportunities.