WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (January 11, 2024) — Purple and Proud: The Campaign for Des Moines University has twice surpassed its funding goals.
The campaign was publicly launched in December 2018 with an initial goal to raise $25 million. Following donors' generous support, DMU announced the extension and doubling of the campaign goal in December 2020 to further support the university's mission.
"When we began this campaign, we could only have dreamt of the groundbreaking success we have now realized," says Angela L Walker Franklin PhD, DMU president and CEO. "Thanks to the incredible support we have received, we have built a stronger university that will allow the DMU community to continue a tradition of excellence in medical and health science education. For that, on behalf of our current and future students, faculty and staff, we thank everyone who has helped us achieve our audacious goals."
More than 4,737 donors have funded the campaign, including 76% of DMU's employees, for a record $51,061,597 million to date.
The campaign has raised funds to advance three university priorities:
- Development of a new campus and expansion of programs;
- Support for students with enhanced learning opportunities and scholarships; and
- Investment in faculty teaching endeavors.
"This campaign has been the largest and most successful philanthropic effort in the university's 125-year history," says Stephanie Greiner MS, vice president of university advancement. "The campaign has contributed to numerous initiatives at DMU and strengthened our sense of community and pride."
Here's a snapshot of the Purple and Proud Campaign's impact so far:
- 17,670 gifts have been made by DMU friends and alumni;
- $1,152,748 in research funds have been granted, fortifying DMU's exceptional research program;
- 43 scholarships have been established to make a DMU education more accessible; and
- Construction of a state-of-the-art campus on 88 acres in West Des Moines has been completed. The new campus offers cutting-edge spaces for students and faculty to learn, research, and collaborate.
The need to support the university's goals and mission is ongoing.
"Our mission at DMU speaks to the core of who we are. We mold future health-care experts, foster innovation in medical and health sciences education, and serve our community," Franklin says. "The support we have received for the campaign is not just for the campaign but also an investment in our collective future. Our work is never done, our learning never stops, and our need for support is ongoing. Every contribution, no matter its size, fuels the momentum of our endeavors, empowering us to continue making a difference as we have for the past 125 years."
DMU will host a ribbon-cutting and open house on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at its new campus on 8025 Grand Ave, West Des Moines. Alumni, donors, and the Greater Des Moines community are invited, and additional details will be forthcoming.
