THE CHALLENGE

The college launched its campaign with a $130 million goal and four years to reach it. Success would take far more than a handful of major gifts. It would require broad participation across alumni, parents, friends, and foundations, a vision compelling enough to communicate clearly, and the discipline to sustain a comprehensive campaign across four years and carry it to completion.

The college also had to hold three distinct priorities together at once: affordability for students, adaptability in academics, and a community anchored in Christ. Each priority needed its own case, its own donors, and its own momentum, all under one unified campaign.

The Outcome

What began as a bold goal became the most successful campaign in the college's history. The college that once faced real financial volatility now stands on a firm foundation, more affordable for the students it serves, more adaptable in how it teaches, and more deeply anchored in the Christian community at its center.

The momentum came from the people. Nearly ten thousand alumni, parents, friends, and foundations gave, most of them because they shared the vision and trusted that God would provide the way. Leadership cast that vision clearly, and the community answered.

Today the college is stronger than when it started, its students have far greater opportunity, and its leaders are already looking to what comes next. Great is God's faithfulness.

What Others Can Learn From This Story

Name the hard truth, then build past it. Donors respect honesty about where an institution actually stands. Facing financial pressure openly, rather than papering over it, gave this campaign both its credibility and its urgency.

Tie every priority to one clear story.  A single campaign narrative lets different priorities reinforce one another instead of competing for attention.

A campaign of this size is a community effort. Momentum did not come from a short list of names. It came from thousands of alumni, parents, friends, and foundations moving together, which is what any goal of real scale requires.

Vision does the persuading. People gave because they understood where the college was headed and wanted to be part of it. When the destination is clear and worth reaching, generosity follows.

A strong finish reflects strong discipline. Beating a goal and closing ahead of schedule is not luck. It is the product of steady, disciplined execution sustained over years.