Bellarmine Asks 100 Million Dollar Question

Ambitious Capital Campaign Raises Stakes for University and Region

Citing the Louisville region's need for a nationally preeminent private university, Bellarmine University has launched the public phase of an ambitious $100 million capital campaign. The effort will increase the school's endowment, enlarge the annual fund and launch the most ambitious construction project in the university's 61-year history.

Dubbed the "100 Million Dollar Question," the campaign -- online at 100milliondollarquestion.org -- asks Louisvillians to consider Bellarmine's growing impact on the community as it continues to emerge as a leading private university.

MORE INFO Business First article Courier-Journal op-ed Vision 2020 (PDF) Campaign website: ask your 100 Million Dollar Question

"Every prosperous region of the country shares a common denominator for success -- a thriving private university of significant size and stature, in addition to successful public institutions," said Dr. Joseph J. McGowan, Bellarmine's president. "What Notre Dame has done for Indiana, Emory for Atlanta, Duke for North Carolina, and Vanderbilt for Nashville, Bellarmine can do for Louisville and this region."

McGowan said the campaign, which supports the city's 55,000 Degrees program and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education's Stronger by Degrees initiative, will help the region attract and keep more young, educated and innovative thinkers. It will also enrich the area's culture, character and personality.

Makers Mark chairman emeritus and Bellarmine trustee Bill Samuels Jr. is serving as chairman of the capital campaign, which has crossed the halfway mark, with $52 million raised.

The campaign is an outgrowth of Bellarmine's Vision 2020, a plan adopted by the college's Board of Trustees in 2005 that sets a broad vision for new schools, new majors, new buildings and new ways to serve Louisville and Kentucky. Vision 2020 calls for Bellarmine to become the premier independent Catholic university in the South, and thereby the leading private university in the commonwealth and region.

"I want Louisville to be known as one of the world's most innovative cities, and we can't innovate unless we educate," said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. "My administration has made education a priority, so that we can build a better educated and more creative workforce. Bellarmine's continued growth is vital to our 55,000 Degrees program, which will add 55,000 additional college graduates to Louisville's workforce by 2020."

Construction of Bellarmine Centro

Illustration of Bellarmine Centro

The campaign includes $45 million for new facilities, including Bellarmine Centro, the largest construction project in the university's history. The plan adds three buildings with 69,900 square feet of new space in front of Horrigan Hall, which will also be renovated as part of Centro.

The project includes new classroom and office space, a Welcome Center, a new Graduate School of Management, a new home for the Thomas Merton Center, one-stop shopping for student services, a new green space and a green roof. As of October, $12 million has been raised for construction.

Endowment and Annual Fund
Bellarmine's endowment will grow by $45 million through the capital campaign, providing greater ongoing support for academic programs. The university has already raised $32 million towards this goal.

A $10 million annual fund drive completes Bellarmine's $100 million campaign. This fund, which supports scholarships and other pressing needs, currently stands at $8 million.


Architect's rendering of Bellarmine Centro