Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,
As the Fall Quarter winds down and the holiday season gets underway, I want to share some of the inspiring ways our DePaul family is coming together to support students and advance purpose-driven education.
Mission: Forward
I was thrilled to see so many students, families, alumni, staff and faculty on the Lincoln Park Campus Quad during DePaul Days on Oct. 24–25 to celebrate the public launch of Mission: Forward, the most ambitious philanthropic campaign in DePaul’s history.
Mission: Forward’s $650 million fundraising goal will allow DePaul to expand scholarships, recruit and retain world-class faculty, invest in interdisciplinary initiatives and strengthen groundbreaking research that creates a ripple effect of positive change for our community, Chicago and the common good. Fortunately, the collective effort of the entire university community has positioned us well as we enter the public phase of the campaign, having already raised $469.7 million toward our goal.
I invite you to learn more about our campaign goals and watch videos featuring our faculty, staff, students and alumni on the campaign website,
missionforward.depaul.edu.
Basic Needs Hub
Our division is proud to play a central role in driving support for DePaul’s Basic Needs Hub, which provides food, clothing and other resources to students facing financial hardship or food insecurity — a circumstance that affects one in four college students nationally.
The Basic Needs Hub, with locations on both the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses, experienced a 21% monthly increase in visitors during the previous fiscal year. That rate has not diminished in these days of economic uncertainty. Recognizing this immediate need, we’ve spent the last few weeks implementing a multifaceted effort to raise critical funds through an evergreen crowdfunding campaign on
InspireDePaul and our recent, holiday-themed Ugly Sweater campaign, both of which directly benefit the Basic Needs Hub.
In both cases, the DePaul community was swift to respond and generous in its support of our students, raising more than $65,000 over the last two weeks for Basic Needs Hub.
Blue Demon Challenge
As we turn our calendars to 2026, I encourage you to save the date for the Blue Demon Challenge! More commonly known as BDC, DePaul’s single largest day of giving this year will take place on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.
Every year, the DePaul community rallies around this 24-hour marathon fundraiser, which unites us from coast to coast and at any and all levels of giving. It’s a thrilling example of teamwork and friendly competition across campus as we raise funds for every college and school, departments and programs, scholarships, support services and so much more.
Since last year’s BDC, Advancement has been planning specific challenges and cultivating donor matching commitments in partnership with units across campus. Stay tuned for updates on how you can participate to make the next BDC another rousing success for DePaul!
During these difficult and pivotal times for higher education, we can all find solace and hope in these communal acts of charity that embody our Vincentian mission and respect for the inherent dignity of every person. It’s what motivates us throughout the holidays and every day of the year.
I wish you much joy and peace this holiday season. Thank you for all that you do for our Blue Demon family!
Sincerely,
Katie Fraumann
Senior Vice President
Division of Advancement and External Relations