In year of leadership transitions, overall giving to Goshen College stays strong

GOSHEN, Ind. – In a year when Dr. James E. Brenneman was named president-elect and strong interim leadership both sharpened daily operations and prepared the way for a new administration, giving to Goshen College remained generous for the 2005-06 fiscal year, which ended June 30.

According to Executive Director of Development Roger Nafziger, overall giving to Goshen was up $455,642 from last year, with a total of $6,928,047 contributed. An increase in overall contributions from alumni was particularly significant, with gifts adding up to $436,088 over last year’s total.

The amount received for the unrestricted Goshen College Annual Fund was $1,718,026 – nearly on par with the 2004-05 giving level of $1,739,145. Gifts to the GC Annual Fund directly support the college’s operating budget, which includes everyday costs of running a college and more than $5.4 million in unrestricted student scholarship aid (with additional endowed and restricted scholarship aid bringing the total student financial assistance to more than $6 million).

“Thank you to all the alumni, churches, friends and businesses that gave to Goshen College this year!” Nafziger said. “I am especially grateful that in a transition year, the college continued to receive such good support. We have strong momentum moving forward with President Brenneman taking office and leading us toward full implementation of our strategic plan, which gives us much excitement about the college’s future.”

In the summer of 2005, Lilly Endowment Inc. partnered with Indiana colleges and universities to again enhance philanthropy for the state’s higher education institutions. For Goshen College, this meant that Lilly would award the college $2.5 million if GC could raise $2 million between June 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2006. Though the college had 19 months to meet this challenge, many generous donors ensured success by Dec. 31, 2005.

A national trend that the GC development team has also tracked is increased trust of the Internet for contributing to the college. The option to give online was made available in 2003-04, and that first year 54 gifts were given for a total of $29,975. In 2005-06, 198 gifts were given for a total of $79,817.

Continued strong giving is one indicator of Goshen’s financial health. The college has met its annual operating budget every year for decades and also has worked to build an endowment – now approaching $100 million. Interest from the endowment currently funds 9.7 percent of the college’s annual operating budget.

“We are deeply grateful for the generosity and stewardship of college supporters of past and present for these gifts which keep on giving,” said Jim Histand, vice president for finance. “We will continue to carefully use that support in providing the quality academic programs and opportunities we are known for, as well as the financial aid needed to provide access to the education available here.”

Another external affirmation for Goshen’s stewardship is that it ranks in the top 10 of the 105 Council for Christian Colleges and Universities for financial strength, according to the composite financial index which the organization tracks for all of its members.

“We value every contribution to Goshen, and we are careful stewards of others’ investments in the mission of Goshen College because we know the outcome is transformed lives,” said Nafziger.

In addition to President Brenneman taking office on July 1, the new Vice President for Institutional Advancement William A. Jones began at the same time to lead the areas of development, college relations and public relations.

To contact the Goshen College development office, call (574) 535-7558. Or visit: www.goshen.edu/give.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.