Bethel Launches the Called to More Campaign

At a community-wide virtual event on November 12, Bethel celebrated the public launch of its $150.5 million Called to More campaign. The most ambitious in university history, the campaign engages donors, alumni, employees, parents, students, and friends in a united effort to propel Bethel into the future. 

Hundreds of community members attended the event, which highlighted recent campus improvements, unveiled campaign initiatives, and featured a message from President Ross Allen. “Big things are happening at Bethel,” says Allen, who began his first presidential term on July 1. “We’re pursuing innovative models of education in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and constructing state-of-the-art facilities for our students. And we believe God has even more in store for us, because the world needs committed Christ-followers now like never before.” 

The Called to More campaign focuses on five strategic priorities:

• Building on Bethel’s foundational strengths in science, engineering, and healthcare
• Continuing to develop a robust COVID-19 response
• Enhancing and optimizing humanities spaces for 21st-century learning
• Supporting excellence in athletics through critical facilities upgrades
• Preparing to meet the needs of tomorrow by strengthening the endowment

Fundraising has already gone beyond the university’s previous philanthropic efforts, underscoring the commitment and generosity of the Bethel community. With almost $115 million contributed in pre-launch gifts, the campaign’s success to date can be attributed in part to a step-by-step, fiscally responsible approach that targeted priorities in succession. The Nelson-Larson Science Center—a three-story, 18,000-square-foot addition for science, engineering, and healthcare laboratory and classroom space—is now fully funded, and almost 80% of the goal for the endowment has been reached. Now, donors are invited to help complete the campaign in support of Bethel’s near and long-term future.

“We carry out this work together in service of a bold vision,” Allen says. “A vision to transform Christian higher education, so that we can transform the world around us and create the future we want to see. God has accomplished incredible things in and through Bethel students, alumni, employees, parents, donors, and friends, and we're confident He'll continue to do so—we just have to show up.”