Bluffton launches new foundation

BLUFFTON — Bluffton University has launched the Bluffton College Foundation, a fund to guarantee the long-term success and growth of Bluffton's campus. Operating independently from the upcoming merger with the University of Findlay, the foundation will support funding mission-driven initiatives, maintaining Bluffton's unique identity and heritage, said interim Vice President for Advancement and Enrollment Management Claire Kleman. "This is a totally separate 501(c)(3), charitable organization. It is going to be tied to the Bluffton campus," Kleman said. "The merger might take a few more years, but starting this now allows us to start building that foundation and any additional support for the Bluffton, Ohio campus of that merged institution. All of the funds donated to the Bluffton College Foundation will be managed by a board of trustees made up of Bluffton alumni and Mennonite-affiliated friends and donors, she said. The foundation is spearheaded by 1969 alum Edward Diller. Diller has served for 20 years on the Bluffton board of trustees, including 10 years as chairman. A lawyer and committed fundraiser for Bluffton, Diller has been an important factor in past campus developments. Some achievements credited to Diller's efforts include the construction of the Sauder Visual Arts Center, Centennial Hall and Salzman Stadium. "He understands how these things work. He and his wife Karen have been generous donors to Bluffton," Kleman said. "He knows how to steward these dollars and he has the experience to do that. In addition, he's a Mennonite and we wanted to make sure that this foundation supported the Anabaptist heritage, and he knows how we can relate to the Mennonite congregation across the United States." A long-term initiative of Bluffton University President Jane Wood, a release from Bluffton University states, the Bluffton College Foundation has been seen as a need for dedicated support to the university campus. "Starting a foundation to support the Bluffton campus has been a goal of mine since I became president of Bluffton University six years ago, and with the pending merger with the University of Findlay, it is the perfect time to do so," said Wood in the release. The foundation will ensure that funds are readily available for educational excellence, infrastructure and innovative initiatives that ensure Bluffton's legacy and Mennonite heritage, the release states. Proposed initiatives include the Bluffton Blueprint, music performances and the arts, campus operations and improvements, and an Anabaptist Thought Center. The foundation offers alumni and donors the opportunity to directly support initiatives that are unique to Bluffton. "In higher education, when you have an endowment set of funds that are invested for specific things, a lot of times there's a specific portion that is what we call unrestricted so the donors have said that the university can use that for what they wish," said Kleman. "Bluffton never really had that: we never really had a big unrestricted portion of our endowment. This allows us to have a little bit more freedom on endowing and investing funds that allow our new foundation board of trustees to help support specific initiatives that the university needs at that time." Ed Diller and his wife Karen will lead the foundation, and the board will be comprised of alumni of Bluffton University, including: Stanley ('63) and Joenita (Shetler '63) Clemens — Stanley is a former vice president for advancement at Bluffton. James Sommer ('68) and Kay (Motter '69) Ahten Sommer — James was a 20-year member of the university's board of trustees. Greg ('77) and Donna (Thompson '78) Wannemacher — Greg has been a key campaign fundraising member for the board. Kent ('78) and Gaye (Sprunger '78) Yoder — Kent is a former board chair. "Our board, which right now has five members on it, all of them are former Bluffton alumni faculty or staff," Kleman said. "Most of them have been on the Bluffton University or Bluffton College board of trustees in the past, so we know that they're going to know how to steward that money well. They know what Bluffton's needs are. ... They are invested in the outcome of what the campus looks like and they want to make sure that that vibrancy is sustained." To fully fund the foundation, Bluffton is currently accepting donations to secure its $12.5 million campaign goal. The "Distinctively Bluffton: The Campaign for Bluffton College Foundation" hopes to raise the funds in unrestricted dollars to build an endowment to sustain the university's mission-driven initiatives in perpetuity. The campaign has already secured $5 million in initial contributions from founding families. Once the foundation is fully-funded, the endowed gifts will be invested, and around 5% of the earnings each year will be implemented to support the Bluffton campus. "We are taking donations at any point," said Kleman. "We are trying to raise the remaining $7.5 and I will say that we'll get more than that. This is just the campaign that we are launching to kickstart this foundation. Once we hit $12.5 we're not shutting the doors, we will continue to raise money in the years to come."