Distinctively Bluffton
A campaign to raise funds establishing The Bluffton College Foundation
For 125 years, Bluffton’s campus has prepared students from all backgrounds through a Mennonite peace-church lens, for life and vocation and for the purposes of God’s universal kingdom.
As we move boldly into the future, establishing the Bluffton College Foundation will provide ongoing fiscal support to ensure Bluffton’s legacy is maintained on this campus.
Distinctively Bluffton: The Campaign for Bluffton College Foundation seeks to raise $12.5 million in unrestricted dollars to fully fund the foundation.
Gifts will build an endowment to sustain Bluffton’s mission-driven initiatives such as:
- The Bluffton Blueprint
- Four classes to help students come to new understandings through action and hands-on experience. From the Great Adventure for first-year students through the Enduring Values capstone course, students are provided tools to overcome the challenges of life.
- The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center
- Through all appropriate means, but especially through arts and literature, The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center promotes the study of peace and justice, cultural understanding and nonviolent responses to conflict, with an emphasis on these themes for children.
- Mennonite Historical Collections
- The Mennonite Historical Collections are part of the Archives and Special Collections. Founded in 1935 by the late Dr. C. Henry Smith, the collection reflects the Mennonite affiliation of Bluffton University and the Swiss tradition of many constituents.
- Fine arts
- As an institution, Bluffton is committed to the arts - theatre, music and visual arts - and the impact it has on our campus community. Financial support will provide for facility improvements, equipment purchases and guest artists throughout the year.
- Select campus operational improvements
- Our campus has maintained a positive operating budget for several years. However, we have felt the impact of unbudgeted needs. The foundation will help the Bluffton campus bridge the gap when needed and sustain Bluffton for years to come.
- Bluffton University Nature Preserve
- The Nature Preserve enhances science and recreational education by providing a place for field study in botany and environmental sciences, recreational leadership programming and public education about the natural environment and sustainability.