The University of Puget Sound wants to raise $150 million, and it already has two-thirds of the money.
The Tacoma university publicly launched its "Greater, We Ascend" campaign on Friday, Oct. 23, at an evening event in the campus Tennis Pavilion during Homecoming & Family Weekend. More than $102 million had been raised before the public announcement, according to the university.
The 2025–26 fundraising year alone brought in $22.1 million from nearly 3,600 donors, the university said.
Victor Martin, vice president for University Relations, said in a university statement that the campaign is about people who "believe in the transformative power of a Puget Sound education" and urged the broader community to participate through gifts, mentorship or spreading the word.
The campaign follows the university's "Leadership for a Changing World" strategic plan and splits funding across three areas. The Logger Experiential Commitment supports internships, research, study abroad and athletics. The Educational Access Commitment funds scholarships and financial aid. The Lifelong Learner Commitment builds alumni mentorship networks, faculty development and campus history projects.
Early gifts have already shaped each pillar. The Tom and Meg Names Family Foundation committed $10 million to support scholar-athlete development.
More than $33 million has gone toward scholarships and financial aid, including a partnership with the Posse Foundation and the Sound Scholars program for Tacoma School District students.
The Trimble family and The Trimble Foundation gave $8.5 million to endow two chairs in Asian Studies.
A separate Puget Sound Fund has raised $10.7 million for flexible campus needs.
The public launch falls during President Isiaah Crawford's final year at the university.
Crawford, the school's 14th president, announced in January that he would retire effective July 1, 2027, after nearly a decade in the role. The university said it is preparing to welcome its 15th president next year.
Board of Trustees Chair Beth Picardo called the campaign "a profound collective investment in the enduring value of a Puget Sound education" in the university's announcement.
The fundraising push comes as the university navigates enrollment pressures.
The student newspaper, The Trail, reported in October 2025 that 380 first-time students enrolled that fall, 50 fewer than the prior year and well below the 652 who enrolled a decade earlier.
The university attributed the decline partly to a nationwide "demographic cliff" caused by lower birth rates during the 2007–2009 recession.
Crawford, in his January retirement announcement, said he remained "fully and enthusiastically committed to promoting student success, advancing our strategic enrollment plan, and ensuring a successful launch of our comprehensive campaign."
The university described the campaign as a significant milestone in its nearly 140-year history. No end date for the fundraising drive has been announced.
