By Lexie Owen
Taylor's Advancement office is planning a fundraising campaign to raise $20 million for a new campus center that will function as an updated student union.
The current student union was built in 1958 to serve as a dining facility for a campus population of 700-800 students. Now, with a campus population of 1,800 students, Taylor has more than outgrown it, according to Dean of Students Skip Trudeau. The student union will continue to be used, though it is yet undetermined what function it will serve.
"Because we are as large as we are student body-wise, we need spaces for students to interact with students cross-gender, cross-residence hall and a place for faculty and staff to interact with students," Trudeau said.
The 55,000-square-foot facility will envelope Rediger chapel. It will include the student development offices, the campus store, an expanded food service area, conference rooms and a 250 seat auditorium.
Trudeau and a team which included members of the president's cabinet, student government, faculty, dining facility and architects took two years to design the campus center and negotiate its location and budget. The Advancement Office played a role in setting the budget for the building. Now the matter of raising funds for that budget is entirely on their shoulders. Having wrapped up the seven-year Euler Science Complex project, the Advancement Office has made the new campus center its highest fundraising priority.
"We're doing two things at once," said Vice President for University Advancement Ben Sells. "We're developing the case, and we're developing a list of prospects."
The philanthropic case for support document advocates for fundraising initiatives. It communicates the overall benefit of the project to potential donors.
Trustees affirmed the case for the campus center in February. The public version of the case will be ready by the middle of May, enabling face-to-face engagement of donors.
The Advancement Office is already forming a list of possible donors, which includes more than 150 alumni, parents, students and faculty. Most donors will have a connection with Taylor, an interest in the center and the financial ability to make a large contribution.
The Advancement Office will first focus on obtaining the "lead gift," an especially large donation that will boost momentum and encourage other donors to pledge smaller gifts.
"For a campaign of this size to begin it requires a lead gift in the $5 million (to) $10 million range," Sells said. "It's our hope and prayer, Lord willing, to secure this kind of gift in the next twelve months."
David Ritchie, Associate Vice President for Campaigns, estimates at least 600 gifts ranging from $1,000 to $10 million will be required. The Advancement Office will engage at least 1,300 potential donors to make these pledges.
According to Sells, 90 percent of raised funds usually come from 10 percent of the donors.
Sells is unable to estimate the completion date of the fundraising, but said the last $20 million for Euler took three and a half years to raise.
Construction will begin once all pledges have been made. The building will take at least a year to complete.
