Bucknell University Launches $1 Billion Be the 'ray Campaign, the Largest in Its History

Bucknell University publicly launched "Be the 'ray," the most ambitious comprehensive campaign in its history, on Nov. 6, 2026. With a $1 billion goal, the multiyear effort has already secured $518 million in donor support, surpassing the record amount raised in the University's previous WE DO campaign.
 

President John Bravman announced the historic $518 million committed to the Be the 'ray Campaign at a launch event in New York City.

Be the 'ray prepares Bucknellians to lead in the decades ahead. By investing in lasting opportunities that strengthen the academic and student experience, athletics, career outcomes and scholarship programs, this campaign will expand Bucknell's impact on the world.

"The achievements of this campaign will allow Bucknell to shape the future of higher education," said John C. Bravman, President of Bucknell University. "Bucknell has always been at its best when we have been willing to think boldly about what students need and what education can become. This is a pivotal moment, and Be the 'ray gives us the resources to define our path forward and build on our strengths."

Annie Drapeau '88, chair of the Board of Trustees, expressed the Board's unwavering confidence in the campaign's vision. "By 2035, Bucknell will be the institution other schools study, prospective students seek out first and employers turn to for the talent that drives their company's future," she said. "This plan builds on our strengths and also makes a bold statement about what matters: ambition, hands-on learning, relationships, lifetime career success and the strongest residential campus experience."

A Campaign for Bucknell's Next Chapter

The decades ahead will bring profound changes in how people learn, work and lead. Emerging technologies, evolving workforce needs, changing expectations of higher education, and growing demands for scholarship and affordability are reshaping the landscape.

Be the 'ray brings together the depth and breadth of a liberal arts education integrated with professional programs, the practical experience students need to succeed, the transformative power of a residential campus and a lifelong network committed to student success.

Early investments already demonstrate donor impact. New interdisciplinary academic centers are uniting programs across all three colleges around entrepreneurship, data science and responsible citizenship. Expanded staffing and programming in the Division of Student Affairs are elevating career services, student health and wellness and belonging. New endowments are supporting faculty lines, student research, high-demand majors and scholarships that ensure talented students can confidently choose Bucknell. Across campus, donor funding is shaping cross-disciplinary exploration and the student-athlete experience.

"Bucknell's future is something we all have a stake in, and this campaign is an invitation to our alumni, parents, families and friends to help define that future and make it possible," said Scott Perricelli '94, P'25, P'31, chair of the Be the 'ray Campaign and vice chair of the Board of Trustees. "The Bucknell we know and love exists because generations of people chose to invest in it. Now it is our turn to carry that legacy forward, and to be bold about what Bucknell can mean for the generations that come next."

Five Commitments to Bucknell's Future

Be the 'ray is organized around five commitments — areas where Bucknell is choosing to invest and where philanthropy can help turn the University's vision for the future into action. Together, they form a framework for the campaign's $1 billion goal and a clear roadmap for how Bucknell will invest in the future of higher education:

• The Bucknell Advantage: Expanded support for faculty and staff, greater access to global learning and undergraduate research, and continued investment in interdisciplinary centers.
• The Foundation: Investments in leadership, advising and a more connected residential experience that help students become who they are capable of becoming.
• The Arena: Support for the whole student-athlete, and for Bison to earn Patriot League glory, compete for national rankings and thrive long after the competition is over.
• The Launch: A national model for career advancement, guaranteed internships, new technologies and wider activation of Bucknell’s alumni and family network.
• The Promise: Secure the funding to meet 100% of demonstrated need for every admitted student, eliminate loans for families earning under $150,000 and strengthen the merit scholarships that make Bucknell the obvious choice for the most exceptional students.