In October of 1998, when we publicly announced the Campaign for Duke, I wrote that we needed to "reach out for new goals, in order to claim our great future," and that the Campaign for Duke would allow us to do that, together.

The future is now present, and we have reached it together, strengthened in no small part by your support in the campaign’s first years. Together we have raised both funds and confidence in Duke University’s ability to meet challenges. At the end of 2000, with a long and careful planning process in its final stages, we raised the goal of the Campaign for Duke to $2 billion. We knew we needed additional resources if we were to have a chance to realize our plans; and we believed we could do this, in part because we have already done so much.

Our campaign has influenced all of Duke and will continue to do so. The schedule for completion remains the last day of 2003, even with our higher expectations. Now, as at the outset, I am confident that we will claim a bright future, and grateful that there are so many good people who care so much about our university.

Yours, for Duke,

Nannerl O. Keohane
President
Duke University