Jeralyn Wessel – Staff Writer 

As 2023 drew to an end, Dordt University’s “Planting for the Future Campaign” came to a close on Dec. 31. The grand total of donations raised reached over $103 million. Over six thousand donors contributed to the capital campaign over the past several years to support new infrastructure, current facilities, and financial aid for students.  

In 2017 and 2018, Dordt University was working on the first phase, which included the Agriculture Stewardship Center, the Zylstra Nursing Education Center, and the Theatre Arts Center. While wrapping up those projects, several more appeared on the horizon. Dordt needed funding for the second phase of the Agriculture Stewardship Center, the new dining center, and a major addition to the B.J. Haan Auditorium. In anticipation of these projects, the advancement team began researching the funding they could realistically receive from Dordt’s donors. 

After a consulting firm completed a feasibility study, Dordt set a fundraising goal of $71 million dollars by 2019. The Board of Trustees approved the campaign and fundraising began with a timeline of around five years. Just a few months later, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and the advancement team prepared for a pause in the campaign. However, while most non-profits struggled through an extreme downturn in funding during the pandemic, Dordt experienced quite the opposite. 

“Remarkably, our donors really stepped up during Covid,” said John Baas, the Vice President for Advancement. “When Covid hit here, it was like giving accelerated.” 

“I think we were all shocked at how many people reached out to Dordt asking, ‘What can we do?’” said Janna Hulstein, Campaign and Advancement Events Director. 

Donors were determined to ensure funding was available for students to return to Dordt after the pandemic and gave far beyond expectations. By the end of 2021, the fundraising goal of $71 million had almost been reached. With many donors still ready to contribute to the campaign, Dordt increased the goal to $90 million in March 2022.  

An end date of Dec. 31, 2023, was set for the campaign and the second goal of $90 million was once again exceeded. Donors gave $103 million by the end of the year.  

“Just about everyone who made a commitment to the campaign gave more than we thought they would,” Baas said. “It’s a really interesting time in higher education right now. A lot of our donors hate what they see in higher education generally. They see Dordt as something different from that.” 

The overall campaign included a $15 million goal for estate gifts and $10 million goal for student scholarships. By the end of the campaign, over $24 million had been donated for student scholarships. Several new scholarships were established to aid current and future Dordt students. 

“A lot of people have a heart to give to students directly through the scholarship program,” Hulstein said. “They can see the student that they helped.”  

At many universities, most campaigns are funded through a small portion of large donors, but Dordt’s campaign was composed of thousands of donors, each giving different amounts in pursuit of the same goal. Throughout the campaign, the advancement team was continuously surprised by the generosity of donors. 

“Each day I thought: when I show up for work today, what is God going to amaze me with?” Baas said. 

The funding will be implemented in projects across campus and within current facilities and student financial aid. Following this successful campaign, the advancement team is entering a stage of reflection and immense gratitude as they plan for the future financial needs of Dordt. While some building projects have yet to be started on campus, the funding donated to the “Planting for the Future Campaign” will soon improve Dordt’s campus and community in very apparent ways. 

“Your experience here has been transformed by this campaign even if you don’t know it,” Baas said. “If you have an opportunity to thank a donor, thank a donor.”