Minnesota State University, Mankato

Minnesota State University, Mankato developed a bold vision for the future of its campus and its relationship with the broader Southern Minnesota community.

The Future State is designed to transform the south side of campus into a hub for recreation, wellness, athletics and community engagement. The larger vision includes state-of-the-art athletic facilities, gathering and green spaces, student housing, retail and student services, recreation opportunities and infrastructure intended to create stronger connections between the University and Greater Mankato.

The University envisioned an initiative that would benefit not only its students, but the entire region. Plans include spaces capable of supporting collegiate and high school athletics, concerts, markets, and community events while contributing to regional tourism, economic activity, health, and wellness. In September 2025, Minnesota State Mankato publicly launched a $60 million fundraising campaign to advance that vision. The scale and complexity of the initiative required campaign strategy, donor engagement, and communications to remain closely aligned as the University built support among multiple audiences.

PGS joined the effort to work alongside Minnesota State Mankato’s Advancement and communications team shortly after the campaign launch.

Our partnership was designed to add strategic perspective and implementation capacity while respecting the considerable expertise, institutional knowledge and donor relationships already present within the University and its Foundation.

PGS has supported campaign strategy, major and principal gift opportunities, donor engagement, proposal development, and fundraising communications. The work includes helping the team clarify funding opportunities, develop strategies for priority donors and prospects, prepare leaders for important conversations, and create tailored materials that connect donor interests with specific elements of The Future State.

Rather than operating as a separate outside consultant, PGS works as an extension of the University’s existing teams, helping coordinate fundraising and communications activity around shared campaign priorities.

PGS worked with the University to develop a six-month strategic communications plan designed to move audiences from awareness of The Future State toward deeper engagement with the campaign.

The planning process brought fundraising and communications team members together around common audiences, messages, priorities, and measures of progress. The resulting plan established a coordinated approach to campaign communications, including:

• Priority audiences and audience-specific strategies
• Core campaign messages and proof points
• Content themes and storytelling opportunities
• Email, digital, media, and event communications
• Donor cultivation and stewardship opportunities
• Roles, responsibilities, and review processes
• A communications calendar and implementation timeline
• Regular checkpoints to assess progress and adjust priorities

The plan gave the University a shared framework for determining not only what to communicate, but why each communication mattered, who it needed to reach, and what action or engagement should follow.

Within the campaign’s first year, Minnesota State Mankato raised more than $30 million toward its $60 million goal, reflecting significant support for The Future State and the opportunities it will create for students and the broader region.

PGS remains actively engaged with the University as the campaign advances. Building on the communications strategy, campaign materials, and proposal-development process established during the first year, PGS is now helping the team develop additional major gift proposals tailored to the interests of priority individual, foundation, and corporate prospects.

The progress belongs to Minnesota State Mankato and the leadership, Advancement professionals, Foundation, donors, alumni, and community members moving The Future State forward. PGS is proud to provide the strategy, communications, and proposal support that helps the University pursue its most promising opportunities.