When the university launched the Bolder Bonaventure campaign seven years ago, it dreamed boldly — not just about fundraising goals, but about what this community could accomplish if we joined together in faith, hope and love for St. Bonaventure University.
Today, I write to you filled with gratitude and awe. Thanks to your extraordinary generosity, we didn’t just reach our goal — we soared past it. What began as a $100 million aspiration became a $125 million endeavor. And by the time the campaign ended on May 31, we soared past that goal, raising more than
$131 million — the most ambitious and successful campaign in our university’s history.
That number is incredible, but it only begins to tell the story. This campaign was about transformation. About investing in the lives of students who will go on to serve, lead and make a difference in the world. About equipping our faculty with the tools and support they need to inspire new generations. About ensuring that the Bonaventure experience — rooted in academic excellence and Franciscan values — remains accessible, relevant and life-changing.
At a time when the value of higher education is being questioned in many corners of society, your belief in
St. Bonaventure stands as a powerful counterpoint. You recognized that what happens here — in our classrooms, residence halls, labs, athletic fields and chapels — matters deeply. You remembered what this place meant to you, and you chose to invest in its future.
Because of you, we’ve renovated learning spaces across campus, including Francis Hall for the DePerro School of Health Professions, the Murphy Building for the Jandoli School of Communication, and Plassmann Hall for our School of Arts & Sciences. You helped create state-of-the-art athletic facilities that honor the dedication of our student-athletes. You expanded scholarship support to ensure that more students — regardless of their background — can call this place home.
And perhaps most important, you reaffirmed our shared belief in the value of a Bonaventure education — one that challenges the mind, nurtures the spirit and calls us to lives of purpose.
It’s no secret that higher ed is faced with significant challenges these days, both demographic and governmental, with many questioning the return on the substantial investment. Your philan-thropy tells me you don’t believe that for a minute, fully understanding how meaningful an experience at Bona-venture can be.
As we celebrate this success, I want to thank each and every one of you who contributed — whether you gave a few dollars or made a transformative gift. Whether you’re a proud alum, a devoted parent, a generous friend, or a faculty or staff member who sees the impact of our mission every day — your support made this possible.
You’ve helped us dream bigger, and we’re not done yet.
Even as we celebrate all we’ve accomplished together, we remain focused on completing important work — including the new Henretta Communication Center that will bring our campus media together into a digital innovation hub, and the Athletics Performance Center that will serve all our student-athletes. These priorities will ensure that the momentum of this campaign continues, powering us into a future where St. Bonaventure leads with both excellence and heart.
The spirit of this campaign — bold, collaborative, forward-looking — is the spirit of Bonaventure at its very best. It’s a spirit I see in every handshake, every classroom, every game, every service trip, every late-night study session fueled by Red Bull and ambition.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in this place, for believing in the lives we’re shaping together. You’ve helped ensure that the Bonaventure torch continues to burn brightly, illuminating the path for future generations of students who will go out into the world and leave the indelible impression that generations of Bonnies before them have made.
Dr. Jeff Gingerich
University President
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