After five months of the public phase, the Campaign for Saint Louis University has reached just over $164 million.

“We feel really good about that amount,” said Don Whelan, vice president for Development and University Relations.

Saint Louis University’s capital campaign launched in June signifies the University’s largest fund-raising effort in its history, targeted at $300 million. Half of the goal, $150 million, was raised during the silent phase of the campaign and included the construction of Cook Hall and renovations to the Busch Memorial Center.

Whelan explained that the campaign is set to run for five years, but he noted that he’d be happy to reach the goal earlier.

The launch of the campaign was postponed after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and the sluggish economy continues to affect the fund-raising efforts.

“The last couple of years, fundraising has been hurt by the economy and markets, but that hasn’t kept us from being out there,” Whelan said. “We hope the market has seen its bottom.”

Whelan added, “We have to be sensitive to the fact that a lot of people have seen their portfolios greatly reduced.” As a result, the University is pushing the idea of planned giving, which includes estate plans and a variety of deferred giving options.

Next semester, each school and college will begin its portion of the capital campaign, by reaching out to alumni of their school or college.

The campaign goals are divided into six areas–students, faculty, science and technology, centers for excellence, campus life enrichment and annual support. Included in these goals are scholarships, faculty resources, a new research building and additional funding for Campus Ministry.

In a project similar to the capital campaign, the Development office works on a variety of levels to achieve the goal. The majority of alumni are contacted through letters and telephone calls, but the majority of these donations tend to be smaller gifts.

For larger gifts, Development staff members spend time dining with benefactors and showing them around campus. In addition, the University is always looking for new benefactors.

With half of the University’s donors outside the St. Louis area, the Development staff frequently spends time on the road, meeting with various donors and alumni groups.