Stonehill College’s TO BE BOLD Campaign Raises Record $77 Million  

The campaign surpasses $75 million goal to redefine academic excellence at Stonehill.  

May 31, 2023

Stonehill College has completed the most successful comprehensive campaign in the institution's history, raising a record $77.3 million. The campaign exceeded its $75 million goal by $2.3 million.   

Through these funds, the TO BE BOLD campaign is redefining academic excellence at the College by investing in student access and opportunity as well as faculty research and teaching, athletics, programming and facilities.  

“TO BE BOLD has resonated with students, faculty, alumni, parents, trustees, members of the Congregation of Holy Cross and friends of the College,” President John Denning, C.S.C., said. “I am so thankful for their participation and generosity, which embody an understanding of how a Stonehill education inspires both the mind and the heart. As we look ahead, the success of this campaign will help create brighter futures for our students and for the College.”  

The third and most ambitious campaign in the College’s history, TO BE BOLD began in 2016 with trustee and leadership phases. A public launch followed in May 2021. Given pandemic-related disruptions, however, the campaign—at a key stage in its timeline—had to switch quickly from a traditional, in-person donor outreach to a fully virtual engagement strategy.  

“The campaign went public at the height of the pandemic, a time of great uncertainty. Nevertheless, we came together to overcome those challenges, a sign of strength and belief in our educational mission,” Campaign Chair and Trustee Patrick Griffin ’81 said. “Stonehill was built on boldness. It spurs our readiness and resilience. As we continue our ascent, we are always adapting and improving, never resting on our laurels.”   

Four Key Areas

Funds from the TO BE BOLD campaign are transforming four key areas of college life, including:  

  • Increased Scholarships: Of campaign funds raised, the largest amount, $30 million, now underwrites 63 new student scholarships and the expansion of many established ones.  
  • Revitalized Quad: With an investment of $25 million, the creation of the Leo J. Meehan School of Business is giving new definition to the heart of campus. Campaign funds are also fostering new connections and collaborations between the Meehan School of Business and the Thomas and Donna May School of Arts and Sciences to ensure that the Quad continues to flourish as the hub of academic life at the College.    
  • Bold Ideas: Preparing students for a rapidly changing world means investing in a range of bold ideas, including the establishment of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Social Justice and the endowed James E. Hayden Chair to lead the Center. Another example is the creation of a dynamic photonics program that makes Stonehill one of the few colleges in the U.S. to offer an undergraduate photonics major.    
  • Stonehill College Fund: This fund supports teaching innovation and programs such as the H.O.P.E. service immersion program, the Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) and The Farm. It also underwrites extracurricular activities such as our athletic program’s bold move from NCAA Division II to Division I, a transition already underway. 

Collective Impact

TO BE BOLD has prompted new levels of engagement and participation at the College, according to Vice President for Advancement Douglas Smith, who notes that nearly 12,000 donors made gifts to the campaign from 48 states and 15 countries. 

“The Stonehill community rallied to this campaign with remarkable generosity, and we are very grateful for every gift no matter the size,” Smith said. “While major gifts are critical, smaller ones also matter very much. The collective impact of all gifts cannot be underestimated, and they reflect widespread support for how the College is constantly progressing and improving.”

To learn more about the TO BE BOLD campaign, visit tobebold.stonehill.edu. 

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