Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) has successfully concluded Here for Change: A Campaign for The CCAD Way, raising $25,581,895 and surpassing its original $20 million goal. The achievement marks the most successful comprehensive campaign in the college’s history and signals a new chapter for creative education in the region.
Funds raised through the campaign support transformative campus enhancements, expanded student scholarships and success initiatives, and continued investment in faculty excellence. Together, these priorities strengthen CCAD’s role as a leader in creative education and a cultural and economic contributor to downtown Columbus.
“This campaign represents more than a fundraising milestone—it represents momentum,” said CCAD President Dr. Melanie Corn. “Together, our community reaffirmed a shared belief in the power of creativity to shape the future. Because of this support, we are expanding access, strengthening our campus, and preparing the next generation of creative thinkers to lead meaningful careers and contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of our city.”
Among the most visible outcomes of the campaign is the Center for Creative Collaboration, a renovation of historic Battelle Hall into a dynamic interdisciplinary hub designed for project-based learning, making, and connection. CCAD broke ground on the project in 2025 and anticipates opening the building in fall 2026. The reimagined space will house state-of-the-art student labs and maker spaces—including a Fabrication Lab, Metal Shop, and Woodworking Lab—alongside flexible studios and shared workspaces where community organizations can partner with students and alumni on collaborative projects.
Beyond its academic impact, the transformation of Battelle Hall activates a key downtown gateway. The project introduces green space, safer pedestrian pathways, and a welcoming public presence that reconnects campus to surrounding neighborhoods—reinforcing CCAD’s investment in the vitality of the urban core of Columbus.
In addition to reshaping campus, Here for Change significantly expands access to a CCAD education. The campaign drove a 68% increase in scholarship-focused endowments, expanding financial support for students across disciplines and helping ensure that talent—not circumstance—determines who can pursue an art and design degree.
This growth in endowed scholarships aligns with CCAD’s recently announced Creative Pathway program, which allows qualifying high school students in Franklin and Delaware counties to attend CCAD tuition-free. Together, these efforts signal the college’s deep commitment to affordability, accessibility, and long-term enrollment sustainability.
“From the beginning, this campaign was rooted in belief—belief in our students, in creative education, and in CCAD’s role in shaping the future of Columbus,” said Here for Change Campaign Chair Gil Cloyd. “The extraordinary generosity of our donors reflects confidence in the college’s vision and ensures that CCAD will continue to thrive as a place where creativity drives opportunity, innovation, and community impact.”
With the campaign’s conclusion, CCAD looks ahead to the next phase of creative education—bringing the Center for Creative Collaboration to life, expanding partnerships across industries and neighborhoods, and continuing to invest in students whose ideas and talents will define the creative economy of tomorrow.
The full impact of Here for Change: A Campaign for The CCAD Way and the college’s forward-looking priorities are detailed in CCAD’s latest President’s Report, available at https://www.ccad.edu/presidentsreport.
About Columbus College of Art & Design
Columbus College of Art & Design teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the midst of a thriving creative community in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1879, CCAD is one of the oldest private, nonprofit art and design colleges in the United States. CCAD offers nine BFA programs and a Master of Professional Studies in User Experience Design that produce graduates equipped to shape culture and business at the highest level. Additionally, CCAD offers year-round community art classes for children and adults of all ages, led by local creators and designers skilled in their craft. For more information, visit ccad.edu.
