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As the largest fundraising campaign in College history, Inspiring Achievement called on the generous support of alumni and friends to extend IC’s extraordinary legacy and change the lives of students. When the College launched the public phase of the Campaign in 2019, more than $36 million had been raised. Since then, excitement has continued to build as more than 8,000 generous alumni and friends moved it forward amid global challenges.

Among them is Trustee Del Dunham ’72 who served as Campaign chair and who, with his wife, Lisa, made the lead gift for the first phase of the Crispin Hall renovation.

"I feel a deep sense of pride in the entire Illinois College community and how we responded to Inspiring Achievement — starting with the board of trustees and continuing with the faculty and staff and the entire IC alumni base,” he said. “Everyone who responded to the Campaign did so with excitement and confidence in the College and with a strong desire to put IC on course for a successful future of continuing to educate and empower young people as they prepare for their lives and careers."

Across campus, the Campaign has already had a resounding impact on students’ lives. It focused on four pillars: recruiting and retaining students with scholarships, expanding access and opportunities for internships and hands-on learning, renovating academic and athletic facilities, and making an immediate impact through direct support for students and faculty.

“Reaching the conclusion of this historic campaign is about more than the financial support for Illinois College as an institution. It is about the inspiring and empowering work the College does each day — work the world needs now more than ever. Through Inspiring Achievement, our community answered a call to action to ensure future generations of students have access to the life-changing opportunities the College has long given its graduates,” President Barbara A. Farley said. 

Improvements that modernized academic learning environments and allowed for the expansion of sought-after academic programs have played an important role in preparing students for successful careers in growing fields, as well as in recruiting and retaining top students and helping the College achieve significant enrollment growth. Classroom transformations supported by the Campaign provided essential technology and flexibility to support the 21st-century teaching and learning necessary for IC graduates to stand out in a competitive job market. 

Athletic facilities improvements have awed recruits and their families and strengthened the competitiveness of IC’s programs. New lights and turf in England Stadium, renovated Brooks Baseball and Kamp Softball fields, the addition of the Zelcs Fitness Center and reimagined Bellatti Weight Room, and a new floor in Sherman Gymnasium were among the impressive renovations. 

The most visible Campaign priority currently underway is the renovation of Crispin Hall, the second phase of which is scheduled to open in August 2023. The building’s interior and exterior are already unrecognizable. This state-of-the-art academic building will be a contemporary learning environment that will attract, engage and inspire students in a number of cutting-edge disciplines.

The IC community will be celebrating throughout the academic year, Farley said. There will be celebration events around the country, kicked off by the Inspiring Achievement Celebration on campus Friday, Oct. 21, where the official total raised by the Campaign will be announced.

“We have accomplished something remarkable together by surpassing this historic $50 million milestone,” she said. “Illinois College’s vision of inspiring achievement and empowering students to make a difference in the world is vital and we will celebrate our donors and the students they support with events around the country.”

Learn more online about Inspiring Achievement: The Campaign for Illinois College and the ongoing work of the Crispin Hall renovation.