Lenoir-Rhyne is charging forward—removing barriers, expanding opportunity and shaping tomorrow’s leaders. Together, we’re building a preeminent, purpose-driven experience for every LR student.
A Future Built on Purpose & impact
For more than 134 years, Lenoir-Rhyne has combined access, excellence and mission-driven education to prepare leaders of character and competence. Today, as higher education faces unprecedented challenges, LR is bucking trends—innovating, growing and staying true to the values that defined us from the beginning.
Through Charge Forward: The Campaign for Lenoir-Rhyne University, we renew our commitment to students and elevate the experience that defines our campus, community and future.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
A rapidly changing world brings new and extraordinary challenges—both for society and for the institutions responsible for educating each new generation of leaders. At Lenoir-Rhyne University, we don’t simply respond to these challenges. We charge forward with purpose, optimism and a deep commitment to our mission.
For nearly 135 years, Lenoir-Rhyne has been a leader in shaping lives and strengthening communities. From our founding in 1891 by four visionary pastors to the vibrant, student-centered university we are today, LR has always embraced innovation rooted in our Lutheran heritage. Now, we are entering one of the most exciting chapters in our history.
I invite you to join us. Together, we will charge forward—transforming lives, strengthening communities and unlocking the full potential of Lenoir-Rhyne University and the students we are honored to serve.
CAMPAIGN NEWS
Stay up to date on the latest milestones, stories and progress of the Charge Forward campaign.
Campaign Progress
Thanks to the extraordinary commitment of our alumni, friends and partners, Lenoir-Rhyne has already raised more than $72 million toward our $90 million Charge Forward goal—propelling us into the final phase of this historic campaign.
$90 Million Goal
Reimagining LR for a New Era of Excellence
Rooted in our Lutheran values, Lenoir-Rhyne stands as a beacon of stability and innovation in a world defined by change. Today’s students need more than knowledge—they need adaptability, belonging, mentorship and environments that prepare them to lead with purpose.
Together, we must:
Your investment helps us deliver on this promise.
Expanding Access, Accelerating Opportunity and Transforming Student Success
99%
LR grads employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation
72%
Retention rate, surpassing the national
average of 68%
1 in 3
LR students are
first-generation college students
TOP 40
School for
social mobility, as
ranked by the U.S. News and World Report’s
100%
Tuition covered for first-year and transfer students with family incomes of $100k or less (starting fall 2026)
CAMPAIGN FUNDING
The funds from this campaign will enable Lenoir-Rhyne to achieve four key aspirations:
1. Create Lifelong, Adaptive Learners
Lenoir-Rhyne prepares students for evolving careers through critical thinking and lifelong learning. By investing in adaptive technologies and education, you empower future leaders to navigate uncertainty.
Your support will:
2. Develop Purposeful, Citizen-Leaders
Lenoir-Rhyne cultivates ethical leaders who build communities, not just careers.
Your support will:
3. Ensure Opportunity for All
Scholarships open doors to promising students, fostering a diverse community of future leaders. Your generosity to Lenoir-Rhyne removes financial barriers and enhances institutional agility.
Your support will:
4. Transform Education For Real-World Impact
Lenoir-Rhyne bridges classroom and career through hands-on learning and industry partnerships.
Your support will:
Fueling the Final Phase
With strong momentum already shaping our campus, Lenoir-Rhyne is entering the final phase of the Charge Forward campaign. The remaining $18 million will accelerate two high-impact initiatives that strengthen wellness, belonging and the residential experience—creating a campus where every Bear can thrive.
Student Recreation & Wellness Center
LR is ready to elevate student wellness in bold new ways. A modern Student Recreation & Wellness Center will bring fitness, recreation, health services and counseling together in one dynamic hub designed for whole-person growth. This energized space will expand wellness programming, cultivate connection and equip students to build healthy habits for life.
Residence Life Modernization Fund
A vibrant residential community is at the heart of the LR experience. The Residence Life Modernization Fund will revitalize our residence halls with updated interiors, enhanced shared spaces, modern amenities and improved accessibility. These upgrades will create welcoming, community-centered living environments that strengthen belonging and support student success from the moment they arrive on campus.
Your Invitation To Transform Lives
We stand at a pivotal moment in Lenoir-Rhyne’s history, and your support has never been more crucial. Today, Lenoir-Rhyne graduates—students equipped with adaptability, real-world skills, ethical leadership and a commitment to service—are more vital than ever.
Your gift is an investment in the leaders our world needs. With each student we educate, we shape a brighter future for all. We invite you to be part of this transformative journey. Whether through a one-time gift, a recurring donation, or a legacy commitment, your support will ripple through generations.
Join us today. Together, we’ll empower the leaders of tomorrow, transform lives and charge
forward into a future of limitless possibility.
“LR offers a hands-on approach to learning. Unlike my friends at other schools, I had the opportunity to design and lead my own research project and see it through to completion.”
—Bethany Perry ’24, Biology
“Studying abroad in Madrid was one of the most impactful and fulfilling experiences of my life, shaping who I am and clarifying my goals for the future.”
—Nathan Shackelford ’23, Exercise Science
“I wouldn’t have accomplished as much anywhere else. When you come to college, there’s so much you don’t know. You’re growing up, you’re away from home and there’s a lot of uncertainty. But in the right environment—like the one I found at Lenoir-Rhyne—I flourished as an individual and as part of a community.”
—Ellis Horton ’24, Exercise Science
From Potential to Purpose: The Transformative Experiences That Define LR
Across every program and pathway, students are shaped by meaningful experiences, supportive mentors and a community committed to their success.
Lenoir-Rhyne has set itself an ambitious goal: to provide every student with a truly preeminent educational experience.
Removing the barriers to achieving this aspiration will require comprehensive and generous philanthropic investments from the university’s donors, drawn by the chance to celebrate Lenoir-Rhyne’s current successes and by the opportunity to help achieve the boundless potential of the university, its students and the communities they serve.