Graham-Pelton Consulting And Virginia Military Institute Join Forces For Largest Campaign In Institution's History, Effort Surpasses $300 Million Raised

LEXINGTON, Va., Sept. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Foundation last month surpassed $300 million raised in its comprehensive campaign: "An Uncommon Purpose: A Glorious Past, A Brilliant Future: The Campaign for VMI." Funds raised now exceed the $225 million campaign goal by more than 33 percent. This is the largest fundraising campaign in VMI's 177-year history.

Areas of support included scholarships, faculty development, academic support, leadership development, and military and fitness facilities. More than 14,000 donors responded to the call for support, including 53 gifts of $1 million or greater and two gifts exceeding $20 million each.

This campaign success represents the results of a long-standing relationship between the VMI Foundation and Graham-Pelton Consulting, a fundraising firm that serves higher education institutions worldwide.

Nearly 900 individuals participated in the early stages of the effort, including a foundational operational assessment and database screening, needs assessment, preliminary case for support development, and campaign planning study. A comprehensive plan followed, which included the creation of a campaign leadership structure, customized outreach, Alumni Agencies integration, and a campaign communications team.

"Our partnership with Graham-Pelton helped us stay the course with a disciplined approach to campaign fundraising for VMI," said Brian Scott Crockett, CEO of the VMI Foundation. "They provided invaluable direction on solicitation strategies, campaign cabinet efforts, communications, and board involvement."

"VMI is an extraordinary institution with highly devoted alumni, parents, and friends, so I am unsurprised that they have achieved historic levels of giving, especially at the principal gift level," said Elizabeth Zeigler, President of Graham-Pelton Consulting. "When Graham-Pelton works alongside an institution every step of the way, our client's success is particularly meaningful."

Graham-Pelton Consulting, Inc. is a leading fundraising and non-profit management firm with offices around the globe and is the trusted advisor and partner to leading impact-driven institutions across all sectors of the non-profit world. The firm customizes fundraising services to the needs of the client and the institution's culture, providing campaign management, planning studies, board training and development, major gift counsel, interim staffing, and other uniquely tailored services.

Founded in 1839, Virginia Military Institute is the nation's first state-supported military college. The VMI philosophy is framed by relevant education within a military environment that fosters a lifelong appreciation of service above self. It's an education that develops character, engenders a sense of responsibility to others, and cultivates the ability to master adversity. U.S. News & World Report has ranked VMI among the nation's top undergraduate public liberal arts colleges since 2001. The VMI Foundation's mission is to raise, steward, and invest the funds entrusted to it by members of the VMI Family for the sole purpose of advancing the Virginia Military Institute.

SOURCE Graham-Pelton Consulting, Inc.

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