Calendar Year-End Giving

The Annual Fund is the program for alumni, parents and friends of Bethel University to provide gifts in support of various institutional programs. It includes the following traditional areas of support: unrestricted gifts, scholarships, annual capital improvements and special designated programs. Fundraising activities for the fund are directed by the Institutional Advancement Office.

Generally, anyone who makes a gift early in the year will receive only one regular solicitation. Selected mailings to friends who have already made a gift are designed as a thank you and a progress report on Annual Fund gift totals. An opportunity for making a new gift is always provided because many donors prefer to make several smaller gifts rather than one larger gift.

Based on your degree and special interests, you may also receive solicitations from other campus areas groups. We do not want to overwhelm you with mail, so we strive to coordinate the timing of various fundraising programs at the University.

Every solicitation mailing provides a choice from a short list of the most urgent general fund needs at the university. The majority of the Annual Fund gifts are used to provide scholarships for our current students. Unrestricted gifts are the best way to provide support for the changing priorities in any financial budget. If you would like to make a larger gift for a special program or project at Bethel University, please call the Institutional Advancement Office at 574.807.7485.

If your company has a matching gift program, your gift to Bethel University may be doubled or even tripled. Forms are usually available from your human resources department. If you are not sure whether or not a particular company matches gifts, please call us. Matching gifts from your employer will be credited towards your level of giving.