September

The new 2013-2020 Strategic Plan is approved by the Board of Trustees and introduced to the USM community.

January

USM commences a six-month feasibility study to determine the community's interest in various potential campaign priorities, including a commons, performing arts center addition, innovation center, and endowment growth for faculty compensation and financial aid.

July

Engagement interviews begin with key stakeholders in the USM community.

August

USM kicks off the "50 Years of USM" celebration to honor the merger of its three predecessor schools (Milwaukee Country Day School, Milwaukee Downer Seminary, and Milwaukee University School) in 1964.

The Board of Trustees provides a challenge match for the annual giving program in honor of the "50 Years of USM" celebration.

November

A USM "Think Tank" consisting of alumni, faculty, and administrators, is established to engage in discussions about innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Board of Trustees and administrators engage in discussions about the need for a campus community welcome space for parents and visitors to the School.

March

Administrators begin discussions with faculty about the need for additional space in the Upper School dining room and Virginia Henes Young Theatre, as well as other fine arts needs for the School based on the feasibility study feedback.

May

Following conversations that have occurred throughout the spring, the Board of Trustees votes to move forward with a capital campaign.

July

Head of School Laura Fuller and the Board of Trustees establish a Campaign Cabinet, consisting of Trustees and other members of the USM community, and appoint Trustees Rick Stratton '92 and Karin Werner as campaign co-chairs.

August

The Board of Trustees approves the creation of a comprehensive capital campaign, to be named "Our Common Bond" to reflect the strength of the USM community; the campaign includes capital, endowment, and annual fund giving, and the Board sets a preliminary working goal of $27 million.

The Advance Gifts Division of Our Common Bond begins in earnest, with the School receiving commitments from Trustees and their families.

September

The Our Common Bond case for support, to be used in conversations with prospective donors, is published.

October

Informed by conversations by the innovation and entrepreneurship "Think Tank" that was established in November 2014, administrators and faculty begin discussions about the need for a larger and more integrated makerspace in the Upper School.

December

Our Common Bond receives an advance gift from Bruce '81 and Jennifer Lee for the Lee Community Room.

June

Our Common Bond reaches 100% support from the Board of Trustees.

July

Our Common Bond receives an advance gift from the extended Uihlein family in support of the naming of the Jack Olson '67 Commons.

September

USM dedicates the Bruce '81 and Jennifer Lee Community Room and Darrow Family Welcome Center.

October

Our Common Bond receives an advance gift from a USM family in support of the naming of the Commons lobby.

The Leadership Gifts Division of Our Common Bond commences cultivation activities with a broader segment of the USM community.

December

Our Common Bond receives a leadership gift from Alex Palermo '86 in support of the naming of the Upper School servery.

February

The Board of Trustees votes to approve the groundbreaking on the commons, innovation center, and the performing arts center addition, as well as renovations to the theatre.

March

Our Common Bond receives an advance gift from the Lubar Family in support of the naming of the Lubar Center for Innovation and Exploration.

Our Common Bond achieves the milestone of having raised 51% of the $27 million comprehensive campaign working goal.

May

Official groundbreaking ceremony attended by 1,200 people.

Construction on the capital projects begins, with great progress occurring during the summer months.

August

USM dedicates the Lubar Center for Innovation and Exploration following the Opening Ceremony for the first day of the 2017-18 school year.

September

Our Common Bond achieves the milestone of having raised 60% of the $27 million comprehensive campaign working goal.

December

The Class of 2018 celebrates the placement of the community-signed Our Common Bond beam in the frame of the Jack Olson '67 Commons, a significant feature to the structure of the new facility. All members of the USM community, including PK–12th-grade students along with faculty, staff, parents, and alumni, were invited to sign the Beam in November 2017.

January

Our Common Bond achieves the milestone of raising 70% of the $27 million comprehensive campaign working goal. Planning is underway for the Community Stage of Our Common Bond, to commence in the spring.

April

More than 420 members of the USM community come together at the ICE Ball on April 14, resulting in a very enjoyable evening and $1.4 million in Our Common Bond commitments to enhance the innovation, creativity, and excellence of the USM educational experience, achieving 82 percent of the campaign's $27 million working goal.

May

Our Common Bond surpasses the 80 percent milestone of the comprehensive campaign goal. Completed portions of the performing arts center, including the renovated Virginia Henes Young Theatre, the Werner Family Art Gallery, and the Hammes Family Theatre Lobby, are enjoyed during Arts Live, the Middle School musical "Oklahoma," and the 2018 commencement and related events.

Alumnus Dick Kramlich MCDS'53 and his wife, Pam, contribute $1 million to the Our Common Bond campaign, to be recognized with the Kramlich Innovation Distinction for students who meet the program's criteria.

Surpassed the Capital goal of $15 million.

June

Our Common Bond achieves the milestone of raising 100 percent of the $15 million capital goal and 85 percent of the $27 million comprehensive campaign working goal.

August

The entire school community was invited to participate in the Our Common Bond dedication ceremony on Monday, Aug. 27, the night prior to the start of the 2018-19 school year. Dedicated spaces included the Jack Olson '67 Commons, Palermo Hall, the performing arts center, and related spaces.

December

During the first few months following the dedication, the new Our Common Bond spaces provided numerous enhancements to the school day for the students and faculty, and were enjoyed during a variety of parent, alumni, and school community events.

January

Our Common Bond receives the final distribution from the Estate of Barbara Abert-Tooman MDS'58, and the school recognizes Tooman's wonderful bequest gift—the largest campaign gift from an individual—with the naming of the Abert Tooman Center for the Arts.

February

Our Common Bond achieves the milestone of raising 90 percent of the $27 million comprehensive campaign working goal, with ongoing focus on growing the USM endowment and the USM Fund.

May

USM's Heritage Society announces ten new members, resulting from these USM parents and alumni informing the school of their thoughtful and most meaningful remembrances of USM by making a planned gift.

The 2018-19 USM Fund exceeds the annual goal of $1.2 million, with all of these gifts from USM parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, current/former faculty and staff, and friends helping to advance the success of Our Common Bond.

June

Surpassed Endowment goal of $6 million.

October

Surpassed USM Fund goal of $6 million.

January

Our Common Bond campaign achieves 109% of the $27 million working goal.

March

Our Common Bond celebrates the milestone of welcoming the 200th investor in the campaign, with half of these families being new campaign donors.

June

The 2019-20 USM Fund exceeds the annual goal of $1.25 million, with all of these gifts from USM parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, current/former faculty and staff, and friends of the school helping to advance the success of Our Common Bond.

Collectively, all gifts to the USM Fund during the five years of the campaign totaled more than $6.8 million—the single largest contribution to Our Common Bond.

Our Common Bond closes on June 30, 2020, with commitments exceeding $30.3 million, 13% beyond the $27 million comprehensive campaign working goal.

Also, on June 30, 2020, Laura Fuller retires from her nine-year tenure at USM's 8th Head of School