End-of-the-year giving to Goshen College surpasses goal

GOSHEN, Ind. – The fiscal health of Goshen College continues to be strong as donors gave beyond the college’s financial contribution goal during the 2003-04 financial year and reaffirmed the value of the school’s educational excellence and Christ-centered core.

Goshen College received $1,920,639 towards the GC Fund, surpassing the giving goal of $1.8 million. Also, the total number of gifts to the fund increased from 5,544 last year to 5,672 this year, according to Andrea Cook, vice president for institutional advancement.

Gifts to the GC Fund directly support an annual operating fund that includes more than $3.5 million in student financial aid assistance.

Giving from alumni, friends and businesses increased for the 2003-04 year to the GC Fund, though church giving declined, which reflects a denominational trend. In total dollar amount, giving by businesses increased by 61 percent; alumni giving increased by 17 percent; giving by friends of Goshen College increased by 44 percent; and giving by churches declined by 11 percent, Cook said.

Cook said, “I am very pleased with the increases in giving, which are strong indication of support for the college and validation of the experiences Goshen offers to students.”

In addition, total giving to Goshen College – the GC Fund plus all special funds – surpassed last year’s giving with an increase of the number of gifts. During the 2003-04 fiscal year, $7,844,050 was given to Goshen College with 7,214 gifts, as compared to $7,544,889 with 6,918 gifts last year, Cook said.

President Shirley H. Showalter said, “We are grateful for the generous support of our friends and alumni and their willingness to partner with us to create excellence on our campus. What we hope to develop through their giving are the elements of the Goshen College experience that make us distinct and excellent and that prepare students for service to the church, the community and the world.”

Not only is the financial outlook of the college solid, but in relation, the physical campus also continues to grow and develop. Vice President for Finance Jim Histand said, “With the completion of the Music Center and the many renovations and remodeling projects that have been completed in the last three years, the college facilities on the whole are arguably in the best condition ever. Major renovations of all on-campus residence halls, off-campus small group homes and several academic buildings have upgraded facilities significantly and now provide a broad portfolio of attractive learning and living spaces on campus.”

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,” Kaplan’s “Most Interesting Colleges” guide and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

Editors: For more information, contact News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.