Campaign Overview

The University of Rhode Island has been making a difference in the world for over a century. In order to continue its tradition of excellence, URI launched the public phase of its second major comprehensive capital campaign in October of 2007.

Campaign Goals

With the overall goal of distinguishing itself as a top-notch and highly competitive university offering prospective students outstanding faculty, increased scholarships opportunities, cutting-edge and continuously evolving academic and research initiatives, and state-of-the-art facilities, a $100 million goal was established for the campaign.

Scheduled to End December 31, 2010, the Campaign Priorities Were Identified to Include:

• Significantly enhancing undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships
• Funding faculty chairs and professorships
• Supporting academic enterprise funds and the Library
• Renovating existing and constructing much-needed new facilities
• Increasing support for athletics programming
• Enhancing support for the Fund for URI, URI’s annual fund

The Impact of Endowment Enhancement

Enhancing the University’s endowment remains a high priority, along with the other priorities outlined, as hundreds of scholarships, as well as faculty support and program support, are funded through the endowment on an annual basis.

Facility Improvements

On the facility improvement front, Rhode Island taxpayers have voted, in the past, to approve state bond financing which covers the vast majority of the several key construction projects. Private funding, at a very important but less significant extent, often comes into play to enhance these projects. Some of the construction projects identified at the beginning of the campaign for private support enhancement include:

Fund for URI Support

Annual fund support is also being targeted during the campaign, as annual giving is the bedrock on which all other fundraising efforts rest. Alumni and other donors will be asked to make commitments to the Fund for URI in addition to making special gifts in support of featured campaign projects and initiatives. Annual giving includes restricted, targeted giving as well as unrestricted giving which provides valuable flexibility in terms of funding priorities across campus.

Athletics Support

Outside of Athletic facility improvements (shown above), support is sought for operational and program enhancements for Rhodey Athletcis, including club team support.