Saint John’s Prep Raises Over $15 Million in Historic Campaign

Saint John’s Preparatory School announces the successful completion of its comprehensive capital campaign, exceeding its original $10 million goal by raising more than $15.1 million.

“Prep Forward: Our Time is Now is the largest, most successful campaign in our school’s nearly 170-year history,” said Jon McGee, Head of School. “The funds raised will significantly increase the scope and impact of the campaign’s priorities, including supporting teachers and students while providing facilities upgrades and improvements.”

Launched in April 2024 to raise $10 million, the campaign quickly gained momentum, creating an opportunity to stretch the campaign goal and expand the timing. “While we anticipated widespread support from alumni, parents and grandparents, and friends, we were struck by how many people joined the campaign efforts so quickly and responded so generously,” said Ann Marie Stock ’78, a regent, alumna and leadership donor of the school. “The campaign created an energy in the school community that caused others to join in and celebrate with us. It’s been inspiring to be involved.”

The Our Time is Now campaign focused on investments in faculty, facilities, and financial aid, ensuring the Prep experience is available to students of all backgrounds for generations to come. “Leadership was able to identify core needs and articulate them in a compelling way, putting together a really sound campaign,” said campaign co-chair Bob Mahowald, Jr. ’95. “It was obvious that this was close to the heart for so many. The campaign sold itself.”

The final total reflects both major philanthropic investments and broad-based support from across the community, securing more than $6.8 million in cash gifts, and $8.3 million in planned giving commitments to establish or increase endowed scholarships and support teaching excellence.

Campaign highlights include:

• Total funds raised exceeding $15 million, far surpassing the initial $10 million goal
• The largest gift commitment in Prep’s 169-year history
• Expanded funding for facilities, faculty compensation, and financial aid
• More than 140 donors participated in the campaign

“The timing was right for the needs of the students and families,” said Lexy St. Hilaire, campaign co-chair. “The Prep community showed up with their support and wanted to ensure its continued success.”

With the campaign now complete, Prep will begin implementing all the initiatives made possible by this campaign. To date, the campaign has created the Br. Paul Vincent Niebauer, OSB Endowed Chair in Theatre to permanently support the school’s theatre director position, a complete renewal of our soccer field (Ford-McCormick Field), and the creation of the endowed Theo and James Baustert Teaching Excellence Fund to support faculty salaries.

“The campaign has provided us with the lessons to reshape our major giving program in support of our students and their future,” said McGee. “Looking ahead, we will build on the strong support from our community and steward these resources for long-term impact and sustainability.”

For more information on the Prep Forward – Our Time is Now campaign, visit sjprep.wpenginepowered.com/prepforward

Saint John’s Prep is a premier arts and sciences world school where imagination, creativity and discovery are celebrated. Founded in 1857 by Saint John’s Abbey, Saint John’s Prep enrolls nearly 300 students from 15 nations, half a dozen states, and 29 different Minnesota communities.