The Campaign for TCU reached its $250 million goal two years ahead of schedule this summer, an accomplishment Chancellor Victor Boschini said he thought was a wonderful blessing and a surprise.

According to the initiative’s website the Campaign for TCU is a comprehensive fundraising campaign to further Vision in Action, TCU’s strategic planning effort for the future of the university.

On June 22, Boschini sent a university-wide e-mail informing students that the campaign reached its goal.

“What I think it says is that our supporters believe in TCU and believe in what we are doing for students,” Boschini said.

According to the campaign’s website, as of Aug. 15, campaign gifts and pledges totaled $306,119,949.

Vice Chancellor for Advancement Don Whelan said that despite the poor economy, the campaign managed to gain the support of almost 32,000 donors.

“There is a great deal of momentum across the board at TCU,” he said. “Alumni and friends recognize this and want to help sustain our momentum and make TCU an even stronger university. We are fortunate that so many loyal and generous donors want to invest in TCU.”

Although the campaign met its goal early, Whelan said there were no plans to slow down.

“We continue to seek support for scholarships, academic programs and other programs and initiatives that enhance the TCU experience for our students,” he said.

According to the website, the campaign’s focus shifted in January from constructing new facilities to fundraising for scholarships through the Campaign Scholarship Initiative. The initiative’s mission was to raise $100 million.

Whelan said that donors provided almost $62 million in scholarship funds for TCU students. He said the initiative remained the university’s top priority and would continue even after The Campaign for TCU ends in 2012.

Whelan said the university will recommend an increased campaign goal to the Board of Trustees in November. More details, such as the new goal, would be available when the university makes the recommendation.

Boschini said the board was already considering a higher “stretch goal” and would discuss it further at its fall meeting.

According to the website, in addition to meeting the overall campaign goal, the campaign surpassed its $90 million goal to enhance living/learning communities.

By the numbers
$250 million: Original fund-raising goal of The Campaign for TCU, set in 2005
$322 million: The approximate amount raised for the campaign as of Aug. 23
2: Number of years early the campaign met its goal
32,000: Number of donors who supported the campaign