On Oct. 5th, University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D., announced the launching of “Espiritus Nova: The Campaign for Villanova University.” This fundraising campaign has a $1.25 billion dollar goal to benefit Villanova and the school’s community.
“The name – Espiritus Nova – describes the strong, generous, unshakable spirit that connects all Villanovans,” Father Peter said in his announcement. “This spirit is the foundation and the rallying cry for Villanova’s largest and most ambitious campaign to date. With this campaign, we will significantly enhance all aspects of the Villanova experience, especially the educational opportunities for future generations of Villanovans.”
The University’s campaign will be headed by three chairpeople, all alumni of Villanova: Justin G. Gmelich ’90 Villanova School of Business (VSB), Co-Chief Investment Officer at Millennium Management; Catherine Keating ’84 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Global Head of BNY Wealth; and Joseph V. Topper Jr. ’77 VSB, Chairman, CrossAmerica Partners LP.
With this new campaign, Villanova is looking to further strengthen its academics and to amplify the Augustinian mission both across the nation and the world. Additional goals of the campaign include increasing financial aid to address the needs of future Villanovans, expanding research opportunities and investing in campus facilities to meet the demands for future Villanovans. This campaign more than doubles the goal of Villanova’s previous fundraising and campaign work, which surpassed its original $600 million goal and concluded in 2018 with more than $760 million raised.
The University has already raised more than $640 million towards its $1.25 billion goal.
“Villanova is an institution on the rise, and the University’s academic reputation will only continue to grow through the support of this campaign,” Kevin Noller, Vice President for University Advancement, said in the announcement to the University. “There is great enthusiasm for Villanova as evidenced by three $20 million gifts, and 10 gifts of $10 million or more, received as part of this campaign to date. Importantly, it is through the generosity of all our donors that the University is able to meet its ambitious goals.”
The launching of this campaign comes shortly after a large number of positive remarks have been published regarding Villanova, including but not limited to being named among the top producers of Fulbright U.S. Students for 16 consecutive years with 92 Fulbright U.S. Student Program award recipients since 2020, including 18 for 2024-25, as well as continuing to set new standards on the admissions front, receiving 23,842 applications this year—the University’s second-highest total—for an enrolled class of 1,723 students.
This campaign also follows the recent opening of Drosdick Hall, the new home for the College of Engineering; the groundbreaking for the new 150,000-square-foot building for Falvey Library in September, to be named Vic Maggitti Hall in recognition of a $20 million leadership gift from Victor J. Maggitti Jr. ’56 Villanova School of Business; and the school’s assuming ownership of Cabrini University’s campus in Radnor.
