For the last four years, Ridley has worked closely with the Board of Governors and Leadership team to develop a strategic vision to address the future needs of our students and campus.
Over the next three years, we will be embarking on Phase One of our Master Campus Plan. Phase One of Ridley’s Master Campus Plan includes two segments:
Enhancing the student environment and our on-campus facilities
Growing Ridley’s endowment
Both of these will enhance what Ridley College has to offer and enable us to continue to inspire flourishing lives that will transform our globe.
For information on future plans for The Campaign for Ridley, please contact Kory Lippert, Director of Development, at [email protected] or 905-684-1889 x2211.
Flickr album: The Campaign for Ridley | Height: auto | Theme: Right Panel | Skin: Default - Transparent
Ridley College desires to further the financial assistance we provide to students. By increasing the size of funds going to our bursaries and scholarships, we will be able to make the benefits of a Ridley education accessible to families of all backgrounds.
We have also identified the need to recreate parts of our campus in order to provide future students with an environment optimized for modern learning. This will involve keeping pace with new technological advancements, creating student-centric spaces to support our educational programmes and embracing the creativity which leads to innovation through enhancing our offerings in the digital arts, fine arts and music.
Endowment
Ridley can only succeed in its vision if we maintain the calibre of young minds walking through the Marriott Gates, and this depends on the health of our endowment. It is vital that we substantially increase our current endowment to ensure a strong enrollment of diverse, gifted and ambitious students each year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General Questions
What is included in the Master Campus Plan?
The Strategic Master Campus Plan addresses needs and identifies future opportunities for Ridley College. The school will divide the Master Campus Plan into three or more phases.
Phase One will consist of the following:
Renovation and addition to the Iggulden Building to replace the outdated athletic features with a new Learning Commons, a Music Conservatory and Creative Commons;
Renovation and addition to the Athletic Centre.
Over the next 15 to 20 years, we envision a multi-phased plan comprised of new and renovated spaces which will enable us to meet the needs of future generations of Ridleians. The anticipated overall capital costs of the entire plan will be in excess of $100 million.
Why are we tackling such an ambitious building project?
To enable our students to flourish in modern times – technologically, creatively and innovatively – we must stay current and relevant. We are in real danger of losing our competitive advantage. Our 20th century charm is not enough to foster that creativity and compete with the technological advances offered in newer, more progressively designed schools. Athletic facilities in the Iggulden Building are grossly inadequate and outdated. Squash, basketball, volleyball, and fitness facilities need to be upgraded and purpose built to meet the needs of current and future generations of students. With the addition of state-of-the-art athletic facilities and innovative learning spaces we will ensure that Ridley continues to inspire flourishing lives to transform our globe.
Why do we need to increase the endowment?
Growing our endowment is critical to the long-term sustainability of a robust and healthy enrollment, that will allow us to attract the top students and maintain a diverse student body. Currently, Ridley awards more than $3 million per year in financial assistance, but less than 50% of this comes from our endowment. The balance is subsidized through operating dollars. To limit the strain on our operating budget and attract a diverse student body; we must grow our endowment.
Who is leading the project and the campaign?
Ridley has four staff members who are devoting time to the campaign. There are three bodies of volunteer leadership: a volunteer-led committee of 14 cabinet members, including three co-chairs, a 6-member Parent Cabinet and a 9-member group of Campaign Champions. These volunteer committees are comprised of some of Ridley’s most influential alumni, current parents and alumni parents. We have also retained Compton Fundraising as campaign counsel.
Oversight for the capital project is led by the Project Oversight Committee, the Director of Physical Plant, our project manager at WSP, Centerbrook Architects, LGA Architects and Aquicon Construction.
Campaign Questions
When is my gift needed? And do all the funds need to be collected prior to the commencement of construction?
The entirety of your gift can be pledged over a period of one to five years.
How can I support the campaign?
You can support The Campaign for Ridley with a cash gift, gift of stock, a pledged gift over up to a five-year period or by indicating a planned gift to Ridley in your estate. It is also important that we have your support as a strong advocate for The Campaign for Ridley within your Ridley network.
How will I be recognized for my campaign gift?
We have created a Dedicated Gift List that includes naming opportunities at various levels for Phase One. All gifts to The Campaign for Ridley over $1,000 will be recognized on one of two donor boards in the Iggulden Building or the Athletic Complex.
How far away is the fundraising project from its goal?
We are $3.7 million away from our capital fundraising goal and have exceeded our $10 million endowment goal.
