WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Athletics and the John Purdue Club have officially concluded the Forging Ahead campaign, raising more than $21 million from over 2,000 gifts to support championship-caliber recruiting, retention, and student-athlete development across all 18 Boilermaker sport programs.
Launched in September 2023 with a goal of $18.69 million, the Forging Ahead campaign was designed to strengthen the foundation of Purdue Athletics by equipping coaches, staff, and student-athletes with the tools and strategies needed to sustain competitive excellence. The campaign exceeded its goal in less than two years, reflecting the generosity and vision of the Boilermaker donor community.
"Our focus with Forging Ahead was to enhance our internal capacity for supporting sustained success," said Mike Bobinski, executive vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. "That includes the systems and resources for our staff members who recruit, develop, and support our student-athletes every day. This campaign meaningfully advanced that work, and we're grateful to the Boilermaker community for their continued belief in the mission of Purdue Athletics."
Forging Ahead funded a wide range of initiatives designed to elevate culture, efficiency, and development across Purdue Athletics, including:
The campaign also launched Boilermakers Beyond Borders, a new global immersion and service-learning initiative that sent student-athletes and staff to Costa Rica to build a multi-sport court in partnership with Courts for Kids and the Connors EMPOWER Program. The program expanded Purdue's commitment to leadership development by giving participants the opportunity to serve under-resourced communities while engaging in cross-cultural learning and mission-driven teamwork, a first-of-its-kind offering among Big Ten institutions.
"This initiative was about more than funding projects, it was about equipping our student-athletes with the resources, mentors, and opportunities that develop leaders for life," said Tim House, deputy athletics director and associate vice president for development. "From dining to data to global service, this was a true team effort. We're thankful to every donor who stepped up to make this possible."
Throughout the campaign, donors received enhanced John Purdue Club priority point incentives, encouraging support of forward-facing innovation in addition to annual giving. With its successful conclusion, Forging Ahead has left a lasting imprint on the structure, philosophy, and student-athlete experience at Purdue.
Launched in September 2023 with a goal of $18.69 million, the Forging Ahead campaign was designed to strengthen the foundation of Purdue Athletics by equipping coaches, staff, and student-athletes with the tools and strategies needed to sustain competitive excellence. The campaign exceeded its goal in less than two years, reflecting the generosity and vision of the Boilermaker donor community.
"Our focus with Forging Ahead was to enhance our internal capacity for supporting sustained success," said Mike Bobinski, executive vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. "That includes the systems and resources for our staff members who recruit, develop, and support our student-athletes every day. This campaign meaningfully advanced that work, and we're grateful to the Boilermaker community for their continued belief in the mission of Purdue Athletics."
Forging Ahead funded a wide range of initiatives designed to elevate culture, efficiency, and development across Purdue Athletics, including:
- A department-wide partnership with Profile, a behavioral assessment and performance strategy firm founded by Purdue Football alum Chad Brown
- Expanded support for recruiting and retention, with a focus on data-driven evaluations and sustainable roster development
- Investment in staffing and leadership programming to cultivate high-performance team environments
The campaign also launched Boilermakers Beyond Borders, a new global immersion and service-learning initiative that sent student-athletes and staff to Costa Rica to build a multi-sport court in partnership with Courts for Kids and the Connors EMPOWER Program. The program expanded Purdue's commitment to leadership development by giving participants the opportunity to serve under-resourced communities while engaging in cross-cultural learning and mission-driven teamwork, a first-of-its-kind offering among Big Ten institutions.
"This initiative was about more than funding projects, it was about equipping our student-athletes with the resources, mentors, and opportunities that develop leaders for life," said Tim House, deputy athletics director and associate vice president for development. "From dining to data to global service, this was a true team effort. We're thankful to every donor who stepped up to make this possible."
Throughout the campaign, donors received enhanced John Purdue Club priority point incentives, encouraging support of forward-facing innovation in addition to annual giving. With its successful conclusion, Forging Ahead has left a lasting imprint on the structure, philosophy, and student-athlete experience at Purdue.