Surpasses $50 Million Goal

Cal Poly Humboldt’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign has surpassed its goal of at least $50 million, with more than 10,000 people giving at record levels to support dramatic growth in student scholarships and campus programs. The campaign goal was reached more than a year early.

During the Boldy Rising Campaign, there have been gifts to start new scholarships and bolster existing ones. Other donors created new research opportunities for students, as well as additional internships, paid research, and other hands-on experiences. Donors have funded new specialized equipment, and supported intercollegiate athletics, field trips, travel to conferences, and more.

Due to the success of the Campaign, the number of students receiving donor-funded scholarships each year has grown from about 500 to more than 800. This includes the donor-funded Humboldt First initiative, which provides $1,000 scholarships to all students who attended high school in Humboldt County.

“This is an exciting milestone in Cal Poly Humboldt's journey with the first fundraising campaign in its history. The response and support from our alumni and our community have been amazing,” said Dan Phillips, a Humboldt alum and chair of the Campaign Cabinet. “Most important is the profound impact that the Boldly Rising Campaign is having for our students, providing greater access to higher education, and elevating the excellence in Cal Poly Humboldt programs. We are truly making a difference.”

A series of events celebrating the success of the Boldly Rising Campaign will be held in October during Lumberjack Weekend, Oct. 17-20, and the final amount raised will be announced at that time.

“The Foundation Board congratulates Cal Poly Humboldt on the successful completion of its first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign. This was a longtime aspirational goal of the University and the Foundation,” said Robin Smith, a Humboldt alum who serves as chair of the Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation and a vice chair of the Campaign Cabinet. “We are grateful to all of the donors who supported this comprehensive effort, and we are thrilled for all of the students who will benefit in the years to come.”

Boldly Rising was conceived more than four years ago as a way to support Humboldt’s aspirational vision for its future. Volunteers and campus leaders prioritized making a Humboldt education possible for more students through not only scholarships and other financial support, but also hands-on learning and applied research, acquisition of new and emerging technology, enhancement of academic programs, and creating more equitable communities.

Donor response to the effort was enthusiastic, and the initial goal was reached during the silent phase, before the effort was publicly announced. The revised goal of at least $50 million over five years was met in less than four years.

Over the course of the Campaign, more than 10,000 individuals with a variety of different connections to Cal Poly Humboldt have become donors. They range in age from 18 to 102, and include alumni from many eras, parents and other family members, faculty and staff, community members, public and private foundations, and many others.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has been a part of this very successful campaign. Humboldt has a global community of alumni and other friends, and with this Campaign, they’ve come together to truly lift Humboldt up and carry it boldly forward,” said former President Tom Jackson, Jr.

The donations from Humboldt’s wide array of supporters have impacted every program at the University, with some exciting highlights.

In the very early stage of the Campaign, multiple donors led by St. Joseph Health Humboldt County created a new endowment to enable the launch of the Nursing program. Gifts from donors also helped create the new Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab & Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute. Humboldt’s first endowed professorship and a new student research program were created in Psychology. An endowment was created to establish a new Visiting Artist program. Another endowment was created to support the Cal Poly Humboldt Press and Special Collections in the Library.

During the initial very challenging months of the pandemic, hundreds of donors gave more than $150,000 for student’s basic needs and to help ensure access to technology and specialized materials. Donor support during the Campaign has also been instrumental in expanding emergency housing, providing funds for the campus food pantry, and helping fund programs to help students dealing with unexpected adversity or health challenges.

The first endowed scholarship in Intercollegiate Athletics was created, supporting students on the Women’s Rowing Team. Other donors came together to create more scholarships for basketball athletes, giving enough to also name Tom Wood Court. New donations also support the Athletics weight room, the training room, and club sports at Humboldt.