Bellarmine University's recent fundraising success has earned the institution a national educational fundraising award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Bellarmine's CASE Educational Fundraising Award for Overall Performance was one of just 90 awards the organization presented to colleges and universities nationwide in 2019. “We’re honored to have our fundraising success recognized at the national level,” said Dr. Susan M. Donovan, Bellarmine’s president. “Bellarmine is fortunate to have a large number of supporters who are passionate about our continued commitment to putting students first, as well as our potential to transform lives and improve our city, our state and our region. It’s their generosity and their devotion to making a Bellarmine education possible for more students that earned this recognition from CASE.” Donovan said that Bellarmine's donors include thousands of alumni and alumnae, parents, board members, faculty, staff, students and community leaders. Donovan noted that the award was based on these 2018 accomplishments:
  • Raised $12.4 million, the largest gift total in Bellarmine’s history
  • Raised its second largest Annual Fund total -- $1.7 million
  • Led a record-breaking Day of Giving, with $306,751 from 639 donors
  • Benefitted from exceptionally strong support by its Board of Trustees, led by chairman Bill Mudd
  • Recruited a record number of President’s Society members, through leadership from its Board of Overseers, led by Paul Burke
  • Hosted a successful Knight of Knights event, securing sponsorships from generous community leaders and corporations
The annual CASE awards recognize exemplary development programs based on a blind review of fundraising data submitted in their annual survey of universities. A panel of experienced educational fundraisers review the data to determine the awards. The overall performance award recognizes universities that "show solid program growth, breadth in the base of support and other indications of a mature, well-maintained program," according to the CASE website.  “These institutions have not only demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism and best practice in their fundraising efforts, they have contributed to the betterment of educational advancement worldwide by serving as a model to which others can aspire,” said Sue Cunningham, CASE President and CEO. Bellarmine previously received this award in 1999, 2005 and 2015.