Butler University publicly announced today a new strategy and accompanying $325 million fundraising campaign that will serve as the University’s commitment to setting the standard for delivering a transformative education with local impact and global reach. The strategy and campaign, Boldly Butler, were unveiled during a campus ceremony attended by approximately 500 alumni, community partners, faculty, and staff. 

In recent years, Butler’s strategic investments have produced significant results. In his new book, Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You, higher education expert Jeff Selingo named Butler University one of 75 “dream schools” that deliver exceptional student results, dynamic experiences, access, and affordability. Earlier this week, Butler earned national recognition for excellence in student experiences and outcomes, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, ranking No. 32 in Study Abroad, No. 40 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects, and No. 45 in First-Year Experiences. Butler also earned the No. 1 spot in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Midwest Regional Universities ranking for the eighth consecutive year and, for the 11th straight year, Butler was recognized as the Most Innovative School in the Midwest. Last month, Butler celebrated a record year of fundraising, welcomed its third-largest incoming class, opened a new two-year college, and launched a Nursing program. Butler also recently announced plans to add an Engineering program next year as well as Butler Overseas, a global immersion degree program that allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree in three years while studying in eight countries on six continents. 

“Our strategy for Boldly Butler builds upon an unprecedented decade of growth and innovation,” Butler University President James Danko said. “In these times of dramatic change and turbulence in higher education, Butler must fully leverage its established position to set the standard in delivering experiences and outcomes of the highest quality for all learners, serving as a catalyst for community and workforce development, and equipping our students to lead lives of meaning locally, nationally, and globally.” 

The higher education sector faces significant challenges, including growing distrust in institutions, an increasingly complex political landscape, declining enrollment trends, and rising tuition costs—all of which make this a pivotal moment for Butler. These realities informed the Boldly Butler strategic direction, which positions the University for continued growth. 

The Boldly Butler strategic direction is framed around three commitments: 

• Transformational learning experiences. Butler commits to delivering highly relevant, engaging, and personalized transformational learning experiences that prepare all learners to achieve professional success and lead lives of meaning. 
• A dynamic campus and community. Butler commits to building a dynamic campus and community that enriches our students’ experience and enhances our neighbors’ lives by propelling the economic and cultural vitality of central Indiana. 
• A thriving Butler. Butler commits to creating a thriving Butler, recognized as a premier national university with global reach, centered on a culture of growth, and built to endure. 

Boldly Butler specifically calls for significant additional investment in areas of University excellence that can best be leveraged to tackle pressing challenges close to home and around the world. Butler’s national reputation in the areas of health science, global education, collegiate athletics, and the arts are signature areas of focus in the Boldly Butler plan. 

“Butler’s future depends on our ability to be both bold and pragmatic,” Melissa Beckwith, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, said. “Boldly Butler gives us a clear roadmap—one that prioritizes building on Butler’s existing areas of national recognition, including experiential learning, career mentoring, and global experiences, to ensure transformational learning experiences for all while also creating greater opportunities for community partnerships and long-term institutional vitality.” 

The $325 million fundraising campaign to support the Boldly Butler strategy will run through May 31, 2030. Building on the success of record fundraising in the past year, the campaign will provide critical resources to sustain and expand Butler’s impact, with a focus on key priorities of the Boldly Butler strategy: 

• Expand career preparation initiatives by strengthening mentorship networks, internships, and experiential learning opportunities to ensure every graduate is ready to thrive in their chosen fields from day one. 
• Lead the dynamic future of health education and contribute to the wellness of our region by excelling as a national leader in the preparation of health professionals through a significant interdisciplinary expansion of the health sciences that aligns with workforce needs and addresses the social drivers of health in our community. 
• Enrich campus and community life through investments such as the Midtown Arts District initiative, which will position Butler as a cultural anchor in Indianapolis by expanding spaces for performance, creative expression, and engagement. Likewise, philanthropic support for Butler Athletics will enhance all 22 programs through upgraded facilities, expanded sports medicine services, and additional student-athlete scholarships—ensuring Bulldogs continue to compete and succeed at the highest levels. 
• Expand Butler’s global footprint by increasing student opportunities for study abroad, launching the first-of-its-kind Butler Overseas global degree, and broadening partnerships around the world. 
• Increase access through scholarships with a $50 million goal dedicated to ensuring that promising students—regardless of financial circumstance—can experience Butler’s transformational learning opportunities and positively impact their communities. 
• Invest in faculty excellence by supporting endowed professorships and faculty development opportunities that attract and retain nationally recognized educators who bring passion, expertise, and mentorship to the classroom. 

Butler Vice President for Advancement and Marketing Jonathan Purvis said the University entered the quiet phase of the fundraising campaign in June 2022 and Butler has already raised more than $134 million toward its $325 million goal. Notable gifts include: 

• $22.5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its statewide initiative College and Community Collaboration to fund efforts that contribute to a thriving Midtown Indianapolis neighborhood. 
• $12 million from Butler Trustee Rebecca Graham Paul ’70, MS ’75 to support excellence in women’s athletics and establish the Rebecca Graham Paul ’70, MS ’75 Athletics Leadership Academy. 
• A $9 million grant from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation to support a multi-phased renovation and expansion of Clowes Memorial Hall. 
• A $4.4 million anonymous gift to establish an endowed professorship and scholarship in memory of College of Communication faculty Dr. William Ney, and an endowed scholarship in memory of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty Dr. Ed Shaughnessy.
• A $2.5 million gift from Indianapolis philanthropist and Butler University alumna Marianne Glick ’73, MS ’74, and her spouse, Mike Woods, to support Founder’s College at Butler University.

“We are profoundly grateful to the donors and partners whose generosity has already fueled this campaign’s early momentum,” Purvis said.“Their support reflects deep trust in Butler’s mission and confidence in our future. As we enter the public phase of Boldly Butler, we are energized by the opportunity to build on this foundation, rally our community, and secure the resources that will transform lives for generations to come.”

For more information about the Boldly Butler strategy and campaign, please visit boldly.butler.edu.