Anonymous donor makes lead gift for new Missouri State advancement center

Missouri State University advancement will soon have a new home thanks, in part, to an anonymous seven-figure donation for a new center on campus.

To be located on the northwest corner of National Avenue and Bear Boulevard, the Clifton M. Smart III Advancement Center will serve as the home base for university advancement, the Alumni Associationand the Missouri State Foundation.

"I was stunned to learn someone had given an anonymous lead gift to name the advancement center in my honor," said President Clif Smart. "I have loved being president of this university and am so pleased my name will be forever associated with it. Thank you."

Situated across from the Davis-Harrington Welcome Center, construction of the approximately $20 million center will begin in early 2025 and is expected to wrap up in summer 2026.

"We'll be able to better tell the story of the university, as well as the value of engagement and philanthropy and how that is a key to the future of the university," said Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the Missouri State University Foundation.

Smart features

The approximately 28,000-square-footbuilding will give the university and its friends more space for events, collaborations and meetings.

While the design process is still underway, key features will include:

• Event space: With seating for 200, an indoor event space to serve the university and community will be named for Kenneth E. Meyer. He made gifts for the current alumni center downtown and was a former chairman of the Missouri State Foundation Board of Trustees.
• Outdoor space: This area will be used for gatherings and serve as a hangout space with seating for students and visitors.
• Offices: The Missouri State Foundation and university advancement team - including development, alumni engagement and relations, donor relations and special events, advancement services and athletics development - will all be housed in the center.
• Gallery of memories: This area will showcase static and interactive displays featuring the history of the university and the impact philanthropic gifts have made.

Naming opportunities

A gift was made by Beverly Keltner and a conference room in the new center will be named for the Miller-Keltner families. Keltner is the incoming chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees.

"We will have some great opportunities for alumni and friends to be a part of this building," said Dunn. "We are planning on raising several more millions of dollars."

Other naming opportunities in the building include the main lobby, several areas associated with the galley of memories, an outdoor event area, the main board room, several offices and other collaboration areas inside and outside the building.

The current alumni center

The new center was first announced Feb. 15 during the announcement of the sale of the current Kenneth E. Meyer Alumni Centerbuilding in downtown Springfield. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks purchased the buildingat 300 S. Jefferson Ave. for $5.8 million.

CFO will occupy the fourth floor of the Alumni Center after infill is completed by early next year. The Missouri State Foundation will lease back its space until it moves to campus and will continue to manage and operate the building until 2026.

The current tenants will continue to occupy the remainder of the building.

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