Boise State wants major athletic facilities upgrades. It just set a fundraising record

Boise State set the athletic department’s all-time yearly fundraising record with $24.1 million in total support during the 2022 fiscal year, the university announced Monday.

Led by the Bronco Athletic Association, Boise State has realized 66% growth in gifts and donations over the past year, increasing from $14.5 million to $24.1 million.

“We are incredibly grateful to the thousands of Bronco Nation donors and BAA members who have already answered our call for support, which directly impacts the student-athlete experience,” Boise State Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey said in a statement. “The substantial philanthropic growth we’re experiencing is raising the bar and I believe we’ve only scratched the surface of what we can accomplish as we build for future success.”

Dickey was hired in January 2021 and came to Boise State with a reputation as a stellar fundraiser.

He played a major role in the revitalization of Houston’s athletic facilities while there. At Baylor, he led the way on $200 million in athletic initiatives as part of the university’s Give Light Capital Campaign, which sought to raise $1.1 billion for scholarships, endowments and facilities projects.

Dickey brought a similar approach to Boise State with the announcement in April of the the Broncos’ “Playbook for Success,” which laid out a vision for major upgrades to the school’s athletic facilities, including the construction of a soccer stadium and a 5,000-seat arena for Olympic sports on campus, and renovations to Albertsons Stadium and ExtraMile Arena.

Boise State announced earlier this month that the project is expected to cost more than $300 million.

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Dickey is open about having a long way to go to fund the project fully, but he and his staff had a strong beginning.

The athletic department received four gifts of at least $1 million, including a a $4.5 million gift from Melaleuca for a new video board in the south end zone of Albertsons Stadium, which will be the largest in the Mountain West. The donation from Melaleuca, an online wellness company based in Idaho Falls, is the largest gift in athletics history, according to Boise State.

Dickey’s first year on the job was also highlighted by 11,754 gifts from more than 5,800 donors, which is a 27% increase from fiscal 2021. The athletic department saw a 91% increase in donations from more than 200 donors during Broncos Giving Day, and the Lyle Smith Society has grown to 161 members.

Membership to the Lyle Smith Society requires a minimum pledge of $25,000 over a five-year period. Since its inception in December 2020, the group has made commitments that combine for more than $22 million in donations over the next five years, according to Boise State.

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Boise State’s 2022 football schedule

Saturday, Sept. 3: at Oregon State, 8:30 p.m. MT, ESPN

Friday, Sept. 9: at New Mexico, 7 p.m., CBSSN

Saturday, Sept. 17: vs. UT Martin, 2 p.m., FS1

Friday, Sept. 23: at UTEP, 7 p.m., CBSSN

Friday, Sept. 30: vs San Diego State, 6 p.m., FS1

Saturday, Oct. 8: vs. Fresno State, TBA, Fox/FS1/FS2

Saturday, Oct. 22: at Air Force, 5 p.m., CBSSN

Saturday, Oct. 29: vs. Colorado State, TBA, Fox/FS1/FS2

Saturday, Nov. 5: vs. BYU, TBA, Fox/FS1/FS2

Saturday, Nov. 12: at Nevada, 8:30 p.m., CBSSN

Saturday, Nov. 19: at Wyoming, 5 p.m., CBSSN

Friday, Nov. 25: vs Utah State, 10 a.m., CBS