Silent phase has raised more than $226 million to date

The Citadel Foundation is launching the public phase of the most ambitious fundraising effort the college has ever undertaken. The objective of the “Our Mighty Citadel” campaign is to raise $300 million in support of The Citadel’s strategic plan by the close of 2026. More than $226 million has been secured during the silent phase of the Our Mighty Citadel campaign, which began in 2020 to engage volunteers and secure leadership gifts before the public launch.

A gala event to announce the campaign was held on Friday, April 26, beneath a tent on Sansom Field in Johnson Hagood Stadium. The event celebrated those donors who have stepped forward to make transformational gifts totaling $226,596,553 during the campaign’s silent leadership phase, as well as the many volunteers who serve on the governing boards of the college and its affiliated organizations.

“This fundraising campaign will have a tremendous impact on The Citadel, providing the resources we need to carry out Our Mighty Citadel 2026, our six-year strategic plan,” said The Citadel President Gen. Glenn M. Walters, USMC (Ret.), ’79. “Success in this effort will be felt across every corner of the campus, strengthening The Citadel among the top colleges recognized nationally for the education and development of principled leaders.”

The campaign focuses on funding the six initiatives of the Our Mighty Citadel 2026 plan, organized into four priority areas deemed vital for enhancing the college and ensuring its continued success:

• Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders
• Advancing Academic Excellence
• Sustaining Our Traditions
• Empowering Athletics

Enhancing these priorities will help maintain and secure The Citadel’s reputation as the preeminent college of principled leadership in the nation.

“Thanks to the generosity of those who have made leadership gifts, we have already achieved more than 75% of our goal, but there is much work left to do to ensure that The Citadel continues to educate intentional leaders who are well prepared to deal with today’s challenging global environment,” said Luke Kissam, ’86, campaign chair and vice-chairman of The Citadel Foundation’s Board of Directors.. “I am confident we will meet and exceed our goal in support of the college’s strategic plan.”

Our Mighty Citadel campaign priorities

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders

The campaign seeks to raise $25 million to support leader development, diversity, community collaborations and veteran support. Success toward this goal will establish the Krause School of Leadership and Ethics as the college’s sixth primary academic unit, design and construct a Leader Reaction Course to support campus-wide leadership training and team building, expand the existing Citadel Global Scholars Program to includes summer and semester-long study abroad programs across the globe, and provide services and scholarship support to The Citadel’s veteran and international student populations.

Advancing Academic Excellence
The campaign will also secure $140 million to enhance the college’s faculty and academic programs by creating and enhancing programs of distinction in each of the six academic schools and develop new majors, minors and career pathways in critically relevant fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering, and intelligence and security studies. Contributions to improve academic excellence will enhance student services and faculty support, further underwriting The Citadel’s small class sizes, academic advising services, student summer research programs and the dedicated faculty of experts in their field who serve as mentors in the classroom.

Empowering Athletics
The campaign also aims to raise $55 million to support The Citadel’s athletics programs and increase financial independence. Gifts will enhance the college’s ability to recruit talented cadet-athletes through scholarships, facility improvements, team excellence funds and ongoing operational support. Funds will also be used to support key coaching positions as well as construct and renovate existing athletics facilities to provide a best-in-class experience for Bulldog student athletes. Projects currently underway or being planned include building the East Side Stands at Johnson Hagood Stadium, renovating the Bulldog Clubhouse at Joe Riley Park and enhancing the Earle Tennis Center.

Sustaining Our Traditions

Finally, the campaign seeks to secure $80 million for strategic growth initiatives identified in the Our Mighty Citadel 2026 strategic plan and expand the Academic Enhancement fund. Campaign gifts also fund facility improvements such as the reconstruction of Capers Hall, renovations to Stevens Barracks and the construction of a new facility to house the School of Engineering. Unrestricted gifts for current operating expenses provide the resources and flexibility to meet the college’s changing needs while sustaining and enhancing the excellence of a Citadel education throughout the campaign period.

Thanks to the efforts of key volunteers during the highly successful silent phase, the campaign is on target for achieving and exceeding the $300 million goal before the Our Mighty Citadel strategic plan draws to a close in December 2026. For more information, please click here or call (843) 953-5297.