Florida Tech Announces Record-Setting $100 Million Campaign

admin January 27, 2014

‘Create the Future’ Effort Largest Fundraising Drive in University’s History

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Creating the future requires commitment today.

That was the message as Florida Institute of Technology launched a $100 million campaign Saturday during a black tie President’s Ball on the Melbourne campus. More than 300 university supporters, alumni and community leaders filled the Clemente Center to celebrate the launch of the Create the Future campaign—the most ambitious fundraising effort in Florida Tech’s 55-year history, and the largest effort of its kind ever launched in Brevard County.

“This university’s remarkable journey of growth is inspired by the vision that we create the future,” said Florida Tech President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony J. Catanese. “The journey begins with one goal clearly in mind, to be one of the 10 most respected private technological universities in the world. This campaign, with its primary goal of increasing our endowment, will secure Florida Tech’s future.”

“Florida Tech has made amazing progress, improving its visibility and reputation worldwide,” said Phillip W. Farmer, chairman of the Florida Tech Board of Trustees. “Now we need additional resources to achieve our vision of becoming one of the top 10 technological universities in the world. This campaign is a vital step in that direction.”

The Create the Future campaign encompasses several priorities, including:

Growth of the university’s endowment, which currently stands at $60 million. Endowment funds support scholarships for high-achieving students as well as professorships designed to attract leading experts to campus for teaching and research. Endowed funds can also support programmatic endeavors and sustain new or already-completed capital projects.
Funds for a new facility for the Nathan M. Bisk College of Business. The college requires additional space to advance its entrepreneurial approach to business education.
Improvements to the Vero Beach Marine Lab, designed to make it a showplace for ocean research.
Enhancements to the Anchorage on Melbourne Harbor to transform it into not only a world-class rowing facility, but also a well-equipped location for ongoing environmental research.

Florida Tech’s last campaign, The Golden Anniversary Campaign, concluded in 2009 and raised $60 million.

The university, which serves 16,000 students annually, has collected a number of accolades over the past several months, including being named one of the top 200 universities in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2013-14. Florida Tech is also annually recognized as a Tier One Best National University by U.S. News and World Report and has been named “Best College for Return on Investment in Florida” by Bloomberg Businessweek. The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac has listed Florida Tech as one of the fastest-growing campuses in the country.

For more information on the campaign, visit: http://createthefuture.fit.edu.

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