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ESF Launches Historic $40 Million Campaign to Support Students, Campus, and Research
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — May 15, 2025 — With a vision for the future and gratitude for its supporters, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) officially launched the Be Mighty campaign the most ambitious fundraising initiative in the College’s history. Announced at a celebration held at The Palladian in Syracuse, the campaign seeks to raise $40 million—double the goal of the College’s last capital campaign—and has already secured $35 million in commitments.
The campaign focuses on three key priorities: expanding student access and success, transforming campus learning environments, and advancing critical research.
“As we embark on this campaign, I am incredibly grateful for the network of ESF alumni, advocates, and close friends who help to ensure we can best support our students—and our faculty and staff—so they can be successful,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “Our work has never been more important. Our students have never been more valuable upon graduation. And our research has never been more needed.”
The first goal of the campaign is to engage the next generation of students and prepare them to become environmental leaders. This includes increasing access to an ESF education through expanded scholarship opportunities, pathway programs, and growing support for the Annual Fund to meet emerging needs and unforeseen opportunities.
The second priority aims to elevate learning environments and student services to match the high quality of the College’s educational experience. Funds raised will help equip classrooms and labs with the tools and technology students need to thrive in their chosen professions. The campaign will also support renovations and upgrades to key campus spaces, and expand career development programs that position students for long-term success.
The third focus of the campaign centers on advancing the College’s world-changing research. Investments will strengthen and grow hallmark research initiatives, while increasing resources for graduate students—ensuring ESF remains competitive and continues to drive environmental discovery and innovation.
“Donors to the ESF College Foundation have an extraordinary impact on the College’s success,” said Brenda Greenfield, director of development. “I hope that everyone who supports the campaign has a sense of pride in what their investment has accomplished and what we can achieve together.”
To date, the College has raised over $15 million to support academic research programs and nearly $6 million to increase student support through scholarships and other initiatives. More than $7 million has been committed through planned gifts, with an additional $2 million in unrestricted support for the Annual Fund. Nearly $5 million in other commitments bring the campaign’s total to date to $35 million.
Speaking at the launch event, Andy Breur, an ESF College Foundation board member and President of Hueber Bruer Construction Co., Inc., said, “A word I certainly associate with our support for ESF is relevance. First, I'll say relevance on a global scale because as I look around this room tonight I'm going to guess that everyone in this room would say that climate change is not just a buzzword or a hoax. So I know that when we support ESF, we're investing in passionate young people who are relevant to and engaged in a fight against climate change.”
The Campaign for ESF offers a range of opportunities for donors to make an impact—from establishing scholarships to naming facilities—and invites all members of the college community to participate in shaping the future of ESF.
To learn more about the campaign and how to get involved, visit campaign website link.
About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.