A comprehensive campaign is the university’s next major fundraising and engagement effort that will shape the university’s trajectory for years to come. It represents a multiyear effort to elevate philanthropic support, strengthen donor and constituent relationships, and advance institutional priorities across all schools, units and programs. The campaign is a central driver in achieving the ambitions outlined in Momentous, Rice’s 10-year strategic plan.

DAR is actively planning for the public launch to take place on campus Feb. 26-27, 2027, aligning with the Board of Trustees meetings at that time. Final dates remain subject to board approval.

The silent phase, also referred to as quiet phase or internal counting period, began with the start of President DesRoches’ tenure on July 1, 2022. We anticipate the campaign concluding June 30, 2031.

Our current working goal is $2 billion, pending confirmation by the Board of Trustees in September. The goal is based on analysis of the university’s top donors and Rice’s larger prospective donor population, as well as an ambitious but achievable 8% projected growth rate (compared to current 5% rate) over the proposed campaign period.

Yes. While we aren’t making broad public announcements or actively marketing the campaign during the silent phase, it is entirely appropriate to discuss the campaign with potential donors in an intentional and personalized way, e.g. in major gift conversations, board meetings and volunteer briefings.

Every DAR team plays a critical role, from frontline fundraising and prospect strategy to communications, stewardship, research, alumni relations and operations. Collaboration across teams will ensure a unified campaign experience for donors and partners. As part of our campaign rollout, we will provide a comprehensive messaging guide for all staff members to incorporate campaign messaging into their processes.

DAR will provide guidance, templates, branding assets and strategic support to help schools and units prepare for the campaign. This includes fundraising collateral, proposal resources and communications toolkits.

We began working with Ologie in April 2026 to develop a campaign brand and messaging strategy. Their work will help shape campaign launch events and provide the framework for producing campaign collateral. Specific deliverables from Ologie include:

• Campaign messaging strategy/storytelling framework
• Creative platform for campaign, including name, logo, visual language, narrative.
• Campaign guidelines for internal use and to share with campus partners
• Campaign marketing plan with multiyear themes.
• Branded templates for email, digital/social and print.
• Campaign microsite strategy and comps
• Campaign case booklet

The DAR Mar-Comm team will be utilizing many of these resources to build the campaign microsite, fundraising toolkits, digital communications and other collateral as part of a comprehensive rollout of the campaign.

Our work with Ologies is split into two phases:

• Discovery and creative development: April – August/September
• Marketing plan and collateral: Late July – November

Following a competitive RFP process in spring ’26, we selected INVNT, an international event experience firm that previously worked on Moody X-Fest and on the Be Bold Campaign. Planning begins summer 2026 and will run concurrently with Ologie’s work.

Current expectations (subject to change):

• Feb. 25, 2027: donor event
• Feb. 26, 2027: campuswide celebration
• Spring 2027: Rollout events in New York and Bay Area
• Fall 2027: Additional events in key cities

Final deliverables are TBD, but toolkits traditionally include:

• Case booklet
• Key messaging points
• Presentation resources (PowerPoint)
• Email signatures
• Proposal templates
• Print-on-demand collateral for schools, units and programs
• Folders and cardstock, and other stewardship items

DAR Mar-Comm will work with development leadership to determine the most effective assets for Campaign 2027.