The Power of Stevens: Still positive after $10 million loss

On May 24, 2019, the Stevens community received an announcement detailing updates to the new academic center under construction at the corner of 6th and Hudson. A hidden surprise lay in the text of the email: The Gianforte Family Foundation has reconsidered their controversial second $10 million gift.

“It was a pledged commitment just in the way that a lot of donors make commitments […] [it] enables a donor to reach a larger total toward a project,” says Dawn da Silva, Associate Vice President for Development. Since 2013, her office has managed The Power of Stevens, an ambitious capital campaign.

The Foundation alone helped Stevens raise $20M of the campaign’s original $150M goal. The Summer 2018 campaign newsletter boasted a new target, reflective of the booming success: “$200 million by 2020.”

Despite the recent change, da Silva remains positive. “Losing this $10 million gift for the campaign… is not good. Losing one very special gift: you feel that, but there is still an upward trajectory.” She cites the pride that an ever-growing alumni body feels for their alma mater and the exciting projects around campus as reasons behind the campaign’s success. “Of course it’s a setback […] however, there are so many good things happening and so many alumni that feel positively about Stevens,” she says. Gesturing towards the University Center construction site, da Silva laughs, “Big things are happening. There’s a big hole in the ground!”

Da Silva herself is not in a position to comment on the reasons behind the reconsideration. “[President Farvardin] really is the point of contact for [Gianforte] on campus,” she says. However, the Office of the President seems similarly at a loss. “The Foundation did not give a specific reason,” says Beth McGrath, Chief of Staff.

Much the same as da Silva, McGrath is optimistic that affairs at Stevens are continuing without pause. “All campus infrastructure projects are proceeding as planned,” she says. McGrath refers mainly to the Gateway Academic Center which initially bore the Gianforte family’s — and subsequently their Foundation’s — name. McGrath adds, “The delayed opening of the Gateway Center is unrelated to the Gianforte gift,” echoing a campus announcement published by Robert Maffia, Vice President of Facilities and Campus Operations, on August 30, 2019.

The Power of Stevens continues to ride a wave of success. “It is important to also recognize the generosity of many others who have contributed to what will be a state-of-the-art academic center [and] not lose sight of their generous donations,” says McGrath. “The [campaign] team are fully committed and actively working to meet and exceed the $200 million campaign target.”

Da Silva reaffirms that “everyone is committed to reaching our goals. I think we are well positioned to do that. The campaign keeps moving forward. [As of the end of August,] we are at $167.3 million.”

The Stute reached out to The Gianforte Family Foundation in July. Catherine Koenen, Executive Director, says the “decision [was] made above her.”

Congressman Gianforte is currently actively campaigning in the 2020 Montana gubernatorial race. Both his congressional Washington, D.C., office and Helena, Montana, campaign office have declined to comment for several weeks.