SDSU launches $500 million fundraising campaign for people, places, traditions and innovation

South Dakota State University is launching a $500 million fundraising campaign for “Bold & Blue,” with a large portion of funds going to scholarships for students, endowments for faculty, and leadership and research positions.

Four overarching areas will see investment from the campaign, including “Our People, Our Places, Our Traditions and Our Innovations.” 

The largest portion of the campaign will focus on people, including the scholarships and endowments, and positions that will attract and retain top academic talent.

The “places” portion of the campaign will include an investment on new and revitalized facilities, including the renovation of SDSU’s nearly 50-year-old basketball arena. First Bank & Trust has donated $20 million in a naming gift for that project, which is estimated at $50 million.

Traditions that will benefit from the campaign include the Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band, Hobo Day, Little International and Prairie Repertory Theatre.

Innovations included in the fundraising campaign will align with the university’s land-grant status and the continued growth of precision agriculture, bioprocessing and research in the development and delivery of drugs.

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'Critical to the success of our university'

SDSU President Barry Dunn and Bold & Blue campaign co-chair Dana Dykhouse announced campaign details Thursday afternoon on campus in the Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. 

Dunn said comprehensive campaigns like Bold & Blue are “critical to the success of our university.”

“The generosity of our donors has helped differentiate our university for decades, and Bold & Blue will continue that legacy,” Dunn said. “The campaign will strengthen all areas of our university and provide even more opportunities for the best and brightest to pursue their academic dreams and earn a degree from a premier land-grant university like SDSU.”

This announcement marks the SDSU Foundation’s third and largest comprehensive fundraising campaign. University officials also said it will be the largest campaign in South Dakota history.

Dykhouse said the campaign is a reflection of the trajectory of the university.

“Our state and region’s economic future needs SDSU to remain a dynamic and growing university,” he said. “This historic investment in SDSU during this campaign will do that.”

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Campaign makes fundraising history in South Dakota

SDSU Foundation leaders began exploring a comprehensive campaign in July 2016 shortly after Dunn took office. The process includes development of the university’s top priorities and a feasibility study to determine a goal. 

A leadership phase began in 2017 -- which is designed to test the interest of donors -- and Dykhouse said more than $341 million was already committed during that phase. Thursday’s announcement shifts the campaign into its public phase, which the university said is common practice to make campaigns public after 60% to 70% of the goal is reached.

Dykhouse is chairing the campaign with Kim Tyler, a 1982 graduate and a retired Kellogg Co. executive. Jerry Lohr, a 1958 alum and founder of J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, is the honorary chair. Lohr has served in a leadership role in all three of the university’s campaigns.

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The university’s first comprehensive campaign, Visions for the Future (1994-1998), exceeded its $50 million goal with $52 million in gifts and commitments. The second, It Starts with STATE (2007 to April 2013), had a goal of $200 million. The campaign raised $255 million.

Leaders for the campaign include 13 members of the campaign cabinet and a 14-member business and industry cabinet, including the following:

Campaign cabinet:

• Brian and Denise Aamlid, Sioux Falls
• Barb Fishback, Brookings
• Kevin and Lorie Haarberg, Woodland, California
• Mike and Jennifer Hart, Sioux Falls
• Mylo and Lillian Hellickson, Brookings
• Mike and Cindy Huether, Sioux Falls
• Susan Lahr and Gordon Niva, Laguna Nigel, California
• Sela and David Nagelhout, Harrisburg
• Miranda and Eric Peterson, Brookings
• Michael Relf, Durham, North Carolina
• Dave and Laurie Schaefer, Rapid City
• Greg and Janet Schmieding, Sioux Falls

Business and industry cabinet:

• Avera Health
• Brookings Health System
• Daktronics
• Farm Credit Services of America
• First Bank & Trust
• First Dakota National Bank
• First PREMIER Bank & PREMIER Bankcard
• Hefty Seed Company
• Henry Carlson Construction
• Journey Construction
• Larson Manufacturing
• POET
• Raven Industries
• Sanford Health