December 15, 2015

Donor Gives Colorado College $8.5 Million for Innovation

Commitment supports innovation facility, chaired professorship

Colorado Springs, Colorado - Dec. 15, 2015 - Colorado College has received an $8.5 million commitment that will provide support for the development of an innovation program, including funds for building construction and a chaired professorship in innovation.

This commitment, which is one of the largest gifts in Colorado College's history, comes after Forbes listed the college third on its "Most Entrepreneurial College in America" list and U.S. News & World Report ranked CC first for innovation among national liberal arts colleges.

"Colorado College is becoming a nationally recognized leader in innovation. So this commitment is not only extraordinarily generous, its timing could not be better," said CC President Jill Tiefenthaler. "The funding will help us to make real and significant progress toward this important priority, which is highlighted in the college's strategic plan."

The anonymous donor cited the college's unique approach to innovation.

"Colorado College weaves innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the liberal arts," said the donor. "My goal in making this gift is to obliterate silos and ensure that Colorado College students from all academic backgrounds are equipped and given the opportunity to realize their dreams while changing the world in significant, positive ways."

Of the $8.5 million, $6 million is directed toward a $15 million building for innovation. Current plans for the facility include a product realization laboratory, a recording studio, an idea space and a food ecology laboratory.

Colorado College plans to raise another $8 million before breaking ground on the new building. In the meantime, the innovation program will continue to operate out of the Morreale Carriage House located on the CC campus.

In addition to providing funds for the building, the commitment includes $2.5 million to fund and permanently endow a chaired professorship in innovation.

Patrick Bultema, the college's executive director of innovation, will become the initial chair.

"Our innovation program provides a foundation for translating the analytical thinking, problem solving and creativity of the liberal arts into action," Bultema said. "This gift will allow us to intensify our focus and build one of the most forward-thinking programs and spaces for innovative action and entrepreneurial exploration."

"The gift will have an enormous impact on Colorado College," Tiefenthaler said. "It affirms our strategic commitment to innovation and provides significant momentum to funding the new building."

About Colorado College
Colorado College is a nationally prominent, four-year liberal arts college that was founded in Colorado Springs in 1874. The college operates on the innovative Block Plan, in which its approximately 2,000 undergraduate students study one class at a time in intensive 3½-week blocks. The college also offers a master of arts in teaching degree. For more information, visit www.coloradocollege.edu.