Billion-Dollar Campaigns Maintain Momentum in Tough Economy

Despite the tough economy, billion-dollar campaigns in higher education are making "sufficiently strong monthly progress" and are on track to meet their goals. That's according to a new report that analyzed campaigns launched right before and after the onset of the recession.

The "Marts & Lundy Special Report" notes that billion-dollar campaigns are generally maintaining momentum. Those launched before the recession, however, appear to be performing more strongly.

Among other findings:
• Megagifts, defined in the study as $50 million or more, have not disappeared although a continued weakness persists in these gifts.
• The dramatic decline in giving predicted by some industry experts is not happening.
• The level of monthly progress should be sufficient to at least achieve, if not surpass, goals.
• Implications for new campaigns are that gifts can be, and are being, raised during the recession but that the current bull market has not yet had a measurable impact on giving.

The report is available on the the Marts & Lundy Web site.