Reaching New Heights: Mines Receives Record $120 Million in Support for Capital Campaign

The South Dakota Mines Center for Alumni Relations and Advancement recently announced it surpassed its $100 million five-year New Heights Capital Campaign goal by more than $20 million, establishing a new benchmark for student scholarships, state-of-the-art facilities, enriched student life and hands-on learning. The achievement represents the most successful fundraising campaign in South Dakota Mines history.

“Surpassing this goal is not the finish line. It’s a foundation,” said Mines President Brian Tande, Ph.D. “These resources will remove barriers, expand access and strengthen the student experience in ways we can already see and will continue to feel for years to come.”

Launched July 1, 2020, and concluded in December 2025, the campaign engaged 6,432 donors across nearly 30,000 gifts and pledges, creating a powerful testament to the generosity of the Mines community and its belief in the university’s mission.

Nearly half of the donors made their first-ever gift to Mines, and 4,838 contributors made their largest gift ever to the university. The campaign also included record-setting philanthropy, including the largest individual gift at $6 million, the largest corporate gift at $5 million and the largest estate gift at $9 million.

“This campaign reflects what happens when a community commits to students and stays with them,” said Marc Vaillancourt, CARA’s chief executive officer. “Alumni, donors, faculty, staff and volunteers stepped up in meaningful ways. Their belief is now translating into real opportunity for current and future Hardrockers.”

The New Heights Campaign was built around five pillars each focused on removing barriers, expanding opportunity and strengthening the university’s impact in science, engineering and technology.

The five pillars included: scholarships, academic and program support, Surbeck Center addition, Nucor Mineral Industries Building and CARA support

The $120 million in contributions reflect extraordinary confidence in Mines future and its role in shaping the next generation of problem solvers.

“South Dakota Mines has always solved hard problems, “Vaillancourt said. “This campaign shows the confidence our community has in the people doing the work every day. It positions Mines to deliver impact at a scale that will matter for decades.”