The head of the LSU Foundation, Bryan Benchoff, announced today he is retiring after less than 2.5 years as chief fundraiser of the university system.
Benchoff’s retirement, which will be effective at the end of the year, comes midway through LSU’s $1.5 billion Fierce for the Future capital campaign, which hit the halfway point toward its goal in mid-summer and surpassed the $800 million mark in September.
Though Benchoff did not give a reason for his decision to retire now, a foundation spokesperson says that after a nearly 40-year career in higher education Benchoff decided the time was right.
“The campaign is running a year ahead of schedule, the foundation has completed implementation of the blueprint for its campaign and the foundation is in a good place,” says LSU Foundation spokesperson Sara Whittaker. “So he feels this is the right time to step back.”
The LSU Foundation board will determine the next steps for naming Benchoff’s successor.
Benchoff came to LSU in July 2017, replacing Stephen Moret, who planned and launched the capital campaign before taking over as president and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
