Be Brilliant. Be Bold. brings the entire St. Thomas community together to support scholarships, foster faculty excellence and fund student experiences to help ensure the University remains a leader in whole-person education while remaining grounded in our Catholic mission.
Be Brilliant. Be Bold. is the most ambitious and comprehensive fundraising campaign in the history of the University of St. Thomas. Bringing together alumni, donors, parents, faculty, staff and friends, the campaign is helping ensure that St. Thomas can continue to transform lives and communities for generations to come.
As higher education continues to evolve, universities face growing challenges. Students need greater financial support, employers expect new skills and experiences, and institutions must invest in the people and programs that prepare graduates to lead and serve in a changing world. Through philanthropy and engagement, Be Brilliant. Be Bold. is helping St. Thomas meet these needs while remaining grounded in its Catholic mission.
Since its founding, St. Thomas has been guided by a commitment to educating the whole person, pursuing truth and serving the common good. Today, that mission requires investments that extend across the university.
A comprehensive campaign brings together multiple priorities under a shared vision. Rather than focusing on a single building or initiative, Be Brilliant. Be Bold. supports scholarships, faculty excellence, student experiences and other opportunities in our schools and colleges that strengthen St. Thomas and expand its impact.
The campaign reflects a simple belief: when talented students have access to opportunity, when exceptional faculty are supported in their teaching and scholarship, and when students are challenged to grow intellectually, professionally and personally, entire communities benefit.
St. Thomas is building on extraordinary momentum. In recent years, the university has expanded academic programs, invested in transformative campus facilities, increased national visibility and strengthened support from alumni, parents and friends. Be Brilliant. Be Bold. builds on that momentum by bringing together philanthropy and engagement to expand opportunity, strengthen academic excellence and position St. Thomas for even greater impact in the years ahead.
Tuition supports the core educational experience, but additional gifts provide resources that allow St. Thomas to pursue opportunities that go beyond basic operations.
Scholarships, faculty excellence, innovative programs and transformational student experiences are examples of investments that these gifts make possible.
No. St. Thomas relies on multiple sources of funding to support its mission and provide students with a world-class education.
Tuition helps fund many aspects of the university, but it does not fully cover the cost of scholarships and financial aid, faculty and academic programs, research opportunities, internships, student support services and other experiences that help students learn, grow and prepare for life after graduation. Philanthropic support helps bridge that gap, making it possible to expand access and strengthen the opportunities available to every Tommie.
Scholarships provide one of the most direct ways to expand access and opportunity for students.
They are also among the most meaningful and compelling philanthropic opportunities for many benefactors because they create visible, life-changing impact.
Endowments create long-term stability and provide support in perpetuity. Endowments of faculty positions allow St. Thomas to recruit and retain exceptional faculty who support academic innovation and create transformational student experiences. This strengthens academic programs across the university – and in turn, these faculty and their programs attract students who want an educational experience that is only available at St. Thomas.
The Lee & Penny Anderson Arena was made possible by extraordinary philanthropic support, beginning with a $75 million lead gift from Lee & Penny Anderson. It was built as more than a home for Division I basketball and hockey. The arena enhances the student experience, gives St. Thomas a larger national platform and serves the broader university community through commencement, major events and community gatherings. It is part of a long-term strategy to ensure St. Thomas continues to attract students, engage alumni and extend the reach of its mission.
The move to Division I was about more than athletics. As higher education becomes increasingly competitive, St. Thomas must reach prospective students well beyond Minnesota while continuing to offer the close-knit, personal experience that distinguishes the university. Division I gives St. Thomas a larger national platform to tell its story, engage alumni and attract students while enriching campus life. Like investments in new academic programs, facilities and the residential experience, it is part of St. Thomas' evolution as a comprehensive Catholic university with global reach and impact.
Most philanthropic support received by St. Thomas is restricted by donor intent, meaning donors choose the specific purpose their gift will support. A gift to a school, college, program or scholarship supports that purpose directly. The Find a Cause feature can match you with what you want to support. Gifts to the St. Thomas Scholarship Fund, the Tommie Fund and the Karen Lange Student Emergency Fund support immediate needs.
Yes! Donors can support individual schools and colleges, academic programs and other specific areas across St. Thomas. Explore Find a Cause to discover giving opportunities that align with your interests.
Absolutely! Many of St. Thomas' most meaningful gifts aren't financial. Alumni and friends strengthen our community by mentoring students, offering internships, sharing career advice, volunteering with campus programs, keeping the university in their prayers – and through the simple act of sharing their St. Thomas story with others. Explore Ways to Get Involved.