After relaunching Power the Difference: Our Campaign for Illinois Tech last fall, the university has now surpassed $400 million raised toward its historic $1 billion campaign fundraising goal. 

On September 15, 2022, President Raj Echambadi and Board of Trustees Chair Mike Galvin (LAW ’78) delivered what is now known as Illinois Tech’s “Billion Dollar Sermon.” This monumental moment harkens back to the founding of Illinois Tech, in 1890, when Chicago minister Frank Wakeley Gunsaulus delivered what came to be known as the “Million Dollar Sermon” from the pulpit of his South Side church near the site that the university now occupies.

Power the Difference—the largest fundraising campaign in university history—is designed to make Illinois Tech’s long-term strategic plan a reality by helping to grow its student body; invest in faculty, facilities, and educational programs; develop and deliver new world-leading research programs; and serve as the premier technology-focused university in Chicago. 

Read more about how recent fundraising efforts led by the Office of Advancement have left an impact across the university to date.

We are in a world that continues to call for new and different ways of thinking. And Illinois Tech is born to answer that call, by harnessing the power of collective difference to advance technology and innovation for all. Together, we will continue to transform ideas that could change the world into breakthroughs that will change the world. 

“Illinois Tech is leading the way in empowering students with the skills needed to drive scientific and technological advancement on a global scale,” said Ernie Iseminger, vice president for advancement at Illinois Tech. “Power the Difference is designed to shape the next century of leaders and create the next era of innovation for the world. It will take everyone to successfully reach our campaign goal, but I am confident that our alumni and university community will continue to rally in support of this inspiring cause.”

Thank you to those who have chosen to invest in Illinois Tech. The support of every member of the Scarlet Hawk community is critical to our continued success. If you haven’t already, you can be a part of this historic campaign by making a gift in support of our mission. 

For more information, please visit iit.edu/poweringdifference.