Centenary College Celebrates Record Fundraising Year
Centenary College of Louisiana recently completed a record-breaking year of fundraising, receiving more than $22 million in gifts and grants, marking an extraordinary demonstration of confidence in the College’s mission, students, faculty, and future through the support of alumni and friends of the College.
The fiscal year’s accomplishments included the successful completion of the College’s $50 million FORWARD campaign, significant growth in unrestricted support and the endowment, major federal investment in the renovation of historic Mickle Hall, and continued increases in alumni and individual giving.
The FORWARD campaign, The Campaign for Our Third Century, surpassed its expanded $50 million goal, ultimately raising more than $52 million for student scholarships, academic programs, faculty excellence, and campus improvements.
“This remarkable year is a reflection of the extraordinary community that surrounds Centenary,” said Dr. Christopher L. Holoman, president of Centenary College of Louisiana. “Our donors have demonstrated, in so many meaningful ways, that they believe in the transformative power of a Centenary education. Their generosity is helping us strengthen the College for generations to come — from supporting our students and faculty to investing in the facilities and programs that will define Centenary’s future. I am deeply grateful to every person who chose to invest in this institution and its mission.”
Centenary received nearly $3 million in unrestricted support during the year. These flexible gifts provide the College with resources to address its most pressing priorities and strengthen programs and services across campus.
The College also received more than $8 million in endowment gifts, creating lasting sources of support for Centenary students, faculty, and academic programs.
Among the year’s most significant gifts was a $5 million gift from the Steger Estate to support the Steger Chair for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise. The gift will provide enduring support for entrepreneurship education and help prepare students to think creatively, take initiative, and create positive economic and social impact.
A $1 million gift from John and Joy Ratcliff established the John G. Ratcliff Endowed Chair in Philosophy, providing permanent support for the study and teaching of philosophy at Centenary. The endowed chair was announced in April 2026.
“These gifts represent much more than impressive numbers,” said Fred Landry, vice president for development at Centenary College. “They represent people making deeply personal investments in the areas of Centenary that matter most to them. Whether a donor is establishing an endowed chair, supporting the Annual Fund, contributing to a campaign priority, or simply making a gift because Centenary made a difference in their life, every gift strengthens this College. The breadth and generosity of our supporters this year has been truly extraordinary.”
Centenary also secured $10 million in federal funding to support the ongoing renovation of historic Mickle Hall, one of the College’s most significant capital projects. Congress announced the $10 million federal appropriation in February, and Centenary broke ground on the first phase of the renovation in June.
The renovation will transform Mickle Hall into a modern learning environment while preserving the historic character of the 1947 building. The project will support Centenary’s health sciences programs and enhance accessibility, academic facilities, and opportunities for students.Centenary’s fundraising success was also fueled by broad participation from its alumni and friends. The percentage of alumni who gave to Centenary exceeded its annual goal for the fifth consecutive year, demonstrating sustained engagement from graduates across generations. More than 2,000 individual donors and organizations made gifts to Centenary during the year — the highest number of total donors in nearly a decade.
“The most encouraging part of this year is that the success is not dependent on a handful of donors,” Landry said. “We are seeing remarkable generosity across the Centenary family. More than 2,000 individuals chose to give this year, and our alumni participation has continued to grow. That kind of broad engagement is one of the clearest indicators of the strength of the Centenary community.”These fundraising results come as Centenary begins its third century with significant momentum. The College celebrated its bicentennial in 2025, and investments generated through the FORWARD campaign and this year’s record fundraising are helping position Centenary for its next chapter.
“Our responsibility now is to steward this generosity well,” Holoman said. “The people who support Centenary are entrusting us with the future of this institution. We will honor that trust by continuing to provide an exceptional education, creating opportunities for our students, supporting our faculty and staff, and ensuring that Centenary remains a place where students can discover their purpose and prepare to make a difference in the world.”