Halfway to History
Comprehensive Soaring Higher campaign takes flight—and surpasses a milestone—in its first year
Comprehensive Soaring Higher campaign takes flight—and surpasses a milestone—in its first year
The past year has been very good to Boston College.
- 79 new faculty were hired
- Football won the Fenway Bowl, then hired Bill O’Brien
- Men’s Hockey won the Hockey East championship on their way to the Frozen Four
- Faculty conducted $83 million in sponsored research
- 90% of the Class of 2028 ranked in the top 10% of their high school class
- The Boston College Prison Education Program graduated its first class
- Lacrosse captured its second NCAA championship in four years
- Swimming and Diving hired five-time Olympian Dara Torres
- Messina College welcomed an inaugural class of 110 students
While all of this was happening, the University launched Soaring Higher: the Campaign for Boston College, which caught a wave of momentum that is carrying it toward record levels of success. In total, 82,000 donors have contributed to the campaign, which has eclipsed its halfway milestone, raising more than $1.5 billion to date.
“When Boston College launched Soaring Higher, we did so with hope and optimism. Still, it’s amazing to see where we are now,” said Ben Anderson, campaign director and associate vice president for principal giving within the Office of University Advancement. “This campaign was years in the making, and BC is ever grateful not only to the donors who have gotten us to this point, but also those who will help us sustain our momentum in the coming years.”
The athletics, academic, and admissions achievements mentioned above are both inspiration for and the focus of the campaign. Comprehensive in nature, Soaring Higher essentially supports everything that BC does, all in an effort to continue the University’s upward trajectory. In fact, it stands on three pillars: financial aid; academics; and student life, which expands beyond Athletics to include Mission and Ministry, Student Affairs, and other parts of the campus experience.
For Every Eagle: Financial Aid
This year, Boston College will distribute the most financial aid in its history—$177 million—and two-thirds of undergraduates will receive some amount of aid. Without this critical assistance, many incoming families would be forced to decline an offer of admission from BC. It would weaken BC academically and negatively impact the diverse social ecosystem that benefits all who inhabit our campuses.
Fortunately, BC is one of only 21 national private universities that accept students on their merits alone and that also meet the full demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. However, the BC endowment ranks among the smallest in this group. Gifts to financial aid help the University maintain this commitment and overcome this gap.
Support for financial aid takes on many forms, and all levels of giving make a significant impact. Year in and year out, the BC Fund and financial aid rank 1–2 in gift designations among annual and leadership donors. Last year, gifts under $100,000 added up to $11.2 million for the BC Fund and financial aid alone.
For Excellence: Academics
From research on how viral insulins work and what it could mean for human cancer, to a project that empowers ministerial organizations serving Hispanic Catholics, BC faculty members made incredible use of the grant monies they received last year.
Indeed, some of BC’s greatest impact on communities is led through research and scholarship, academic institutes, and programs. These initiatives—and countless others—empower students and faculty to pursue passions, engage with some of the world’s most pressing and complex problems, and deliver what society needs most.
For BC alumni and donors looking to make a difference at an individual level, innovation funds afford BC’s academic leadership with resources to meet the pressing needs of their schools. These unrestricted funds have ripple effects within departments and across the Heights, strengthening undergraduate and graduate programs, developing faculty, and providing urgent funding to students in need.
Faculty support also remains critical as BC continues to elevate its academic profile as the preeminent Jesuit, Catholic university in America. Faculty are the key to making BC the best academic institution it can be. They help students discern their life’s calling. As teachers and mentors, they guide students to become conscientious, compassionate, and well-rounded leaders.
For the Heights: Student Life
On top of their sporting achievements, BC student-athletes completed more than 20,000 volunteer hours last year, earning many conference and national academic honors along the way. Yet that statistic doesn’t just represent the caliber of BC athletes, but rather the student body as a whole.
Student life encapsulates everything that happens on campus and beyond, from the residential experience and shared spaces; to intercollegiate, intramural, and club athletics; to service groups like 4Boston and Appa Volunteers; to retreat organizations such as Kairos and 48Hours; as well as social clubs centered around identities, hobbies, academic interests, and more.
Gifts to support student life promote formative experiences for students beyond the classroom that help them discern their impact in the world. Bolstering Athletics, Student Affairs, and Mission & Ministry—and the programs within—creates a vibrant, diverse culture on campus and allows students to explore new passions and communities. In other words, these gifts are crucial to making the Heights a home for every Eagle.
“Boston College holds a special place in our family’s heart—we love that it is committed to staying true to its roots and mission. We have been so impressed over the years with BC’s leadership and direction. That’s why we are now even more motivated to support it through the Soaring Higher campaign.”
—Jessica S. and Frank M. Antonacci ’05 from Enfield, Conn. The couple and its Antonacci Family Foundation recently established endowed financial aid funds to support student-athletes and other BC students in need via the Guy Antonacci Family Scholarship. They also invest in the Carroll School Dean’s Innovation Fund.
“Entering a college reunion year brings back so many memories, reminding me of the amazing friendships and meaningful connections that have stemmed directly from my time on the Heights. I’m proud to do my part for Soaring Higher and to give to the campus initiatives that will make a difference for today’s students the way those who came before me did for my class.”
Participation Matters
While it was publicly launched just outside Gasson Hall and Bapst Library, Soaring Higher has visited New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and beyond, featuring administrative, faculty, alumni, and volunteer speakers. There are even plans to travel abroad this fall.
One of the key messages that is being communicated to Eagles around the world is the importance of participation. That’s because in addition to its fundraising goal, Soaring Higher aims to collect gifts from 60 percent of BC alumni over the life of the campaign. As of August 2024, the participation number was 33 percent.
“Boston College is fortunate to have such a dedicated base of alumni who display their loyalty to the University through annual giving. And their giving makes a real difference—millions of dollars are generated year after year by gifts under $1,000,” says Jessica Gagnon, director of annual and leadership giving. “To me, there’s no better way to show your appreciation for BC or your investment in its future success than by making an annual gift, no matter the size.”