JBU Exceeds Campaign For the Next Century Goal, Receives $156 Million

John Brown University is celebrating its centennial birthday during homecoming this weekend, but it is also celebrating what is believed to be the largest capital campaign for a private university in Arkansas.

At The Next Century Campaign Celebration dinner tonight,  Dr. Jim Krall, vice president for university advancement, announced that JBU’s seven year fundraising campaign exceeded its  $125 million dollar goal by $31 million dollars, receiving $156 million in gifts and pledges.

“As JBU rejoices in its 100th anniversary this weekend, we are pleased to announce the successful conclusion of our historic Next Century Campaign,” said Dr. Chip Pollard, JBU president. “We are so grateful to the many alumni, friends, and foundations who have given or committed over $156 million to support the next century of JBU’s mission. Generations of future JBU students will benefit from these gifts, and we are deeply thankful to God for his blessings.” 

Through these gifts the university has been able to build or renovate eight facilities and fund programs in nursing, computer science, art, entrepreneurship, track and field and archaeology. Of the $156 million raised, over $42 million is designated toward financial assistance for students through the JBU Scholarship Fund and endowed scholarships. Campaign donors established 83 new endowed scholarships and increased 97 existing endowed scholarships, a total value of over $13 million.

This was the first JBU campaign that included estates for future gifts which account for over $30 million, many that will go toward future scholarships.

“We are blessed to have an incredible community of people who support JBU financially,” said Dr. Jim Krall, vice president for university advancement. “Nearly 9,000 alumni, parent, employees, foundations, corporations and friends of the university have given to support JBU during the Campaign because they believe in the value of Christian higher education and they desire to impact current and future students.”

Campaign donors, alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of the University were all in attendance to hear the campaign total that will build on the university’s previous commitments and strengthen JBU’s capacity to offer a hope and a future to students into the next 100 years of the University’s existence.