The fourth independent fundraising campaign in the history of the University Tennessee Martin met its $175 million fundraising goal ahead of schedule thanks to the community, state of Tennessee, and the school’s five year strategic plan.
The RISE fundraising campaign at the University of Tennessee met and surpassed its goal of $175 million weeks before its planned end date of June 30. The RISE campaign was the fourth campaign of its kind, and its largest fundraising goal in the school’s 123-year history.
Back in 2021, the University of Tennessee Martin finished its “Prepare for Takeoff” five year strategic plan, which played a large part in the planning of the RISE campaign. The strategic plan was made after a collective process that involved over 600 students, administrators, faculty, alumni, and members of the community.
The priorities of the RISE campaign were aligned with those put down in the strategic plan, and are primarily focused on improving student outcomes through recruitment, student retention, and graduate students who are ready to be engaged, informed, and responsible leaders and citizens, and improving engagement by being a beacon of responsible stewardship while strengthening the prosperity and vitality of West Tennessee and beyond.
Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier, who is serving as the Interim Chancellor, said the biggest amount of money the RISE campaign raised would be used to begin offering programs in animal science, veterinary science, and veterinary technology at the Wildwood Farm in Germantown and to support student scholarships.
Some of the funding will also be used to support capital projects and athletics at the university.
Dr. Cavalier also noted that he was pleased with the result of the campaign, and praised the work of Dr. Charley Deal, who serves as the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement.
In an article posted on the University of Tennessee-Martin, Dr. Cavalier was quoted as saying, “I’m thrilled that we have exceeded the very ambitious goal that was set for the RISE campaign. “Former chancellors Dr. Keith Carver and Dr. Bob Smith led the campaign for the university and played critical roles in creating a compelling case for supporting the transformational work of UT Martin, and Dr. Charley Deal played a major role in advancing that case and leading the advancement team to succeed.”
Dr. Deal was quoted on the impact of the capital campaign on the success of the project, saying, “The historical outcome of this campaign will shape our university for generations to come. Without a dedicated staff of professionals and a campus that embraces philanthropy, we would not have been successful in meeting and surpassing our goal.”
The chief executive officer for the UT Foundation, Kerry Witcher, talked about his gratitude to the people who helped the campaign succeed, saying, “All of us are grateful for the support from nearly 14,500 alumni and friends during the campaign. Thanks to their generosity, UTM is well-positioned to serve the next generation of students.”
Bettye and Charlie Moore, the campaign co-chairs, talked about why they supported the campaign, saying, “For us, it is our way of paying it forward to the next generation of leaders, innovators, nurses, teachers, etc. We are proud to have assisted in raising funds to support the amazing students that attend UT Martin. We want to thank the countless volunteers and donors who have invested their time and funds into making UTM a better place.”
The previous UTM independent fundraising campaigns took place in 1977, 2000, and 2012.
More information about the University of Tennessee Martin can be found at the school’s website.