More than two years ago, senior leaders began praying and talking about the need to find new ways to resource growth in InterVarsity’s ministry on campus. After many conversations at various levels of our leadership, I recommended, and our Board approved, hiring a Christian consulting firm with fundraising expertise to conduct a feasibility study and help us develop a fundraising plan.
InterVarsity has launched the 2020 Vision Campaign to secure additional financial resources to reach future generations of students and faculty. The campaign primarily focuses on four areas of the strategic plan: Evangelism (New Lives), Leadership Development (New Leaders), Chapter Planting and Building (New Witnessing Communities), and Urbana 09 (a New Call to Global Missions), with the greatest emphasis on chapter planting and building.
Dream with me about will happen by the year 2020 if more of today’s students and faculty respond to the Gospel, are taught to walk faithfully with God, and are developed into spiritual leaders.
At the June 2007 Board meeting, I presented a plan with an aggressive goal of securing $10 million in current gifts and identifying another $10 million in deferred or planned gifts, primarily through estate gifts. The board approved this plan.
The allocations have been carefully established by InterVarsity’s Cabinet, and the funds will be distributed according to the plans.
During the next 12-18 months, I will be spending about one third of my time meeting with friends of InterVarsity who have an interest in making a major financial investment in our plan over the next three years.
My hope is to reach not only our current goal and provide funds to help launch new campus work, but also to build stronger and deeper relationships with current and new donors alike who will become great partners with us in the years ahead. I am convinced that many will respond generously at new levels of support.
The Vision Campaign will roll out in phases. We have completed a feasibility study and pre-campaign preparations. I have asked Barney Ford to be the vice president of Advancement and Josh Hall from our Advancement team to serve as the campaign director. We are now in what experts call the quiet phase. As implied by the name, this is the period of time without a lot of public fanfare.
Periodically, other senior leaders or staff will join me in making visits to donors that will lead to the commitments needed to reach our campaign goal. We anticipate that we will be in the quiet phase until 80-90% of the money has been committed, or late fall of 2008. It is normal that 80-90% of the donations come from less than 100 donors. At present, $3.3 million has been committed towards the $10 million current goal. In the final phase, the Campaign will become more public, and we will celebrate its success together as a Fellowship.
The next few months will be critical to our success. I would like to ask you to join me in this effort in three specific ways:
- Pray that God will prepare the hearts of those with whom we visit to respond generously.
- As you are praying for your donors, be mindful of who God may be cultivating for additional involvement with InterVarsity. If you have donors who you believe may be able to make a financial commitment to help us reach our goals, please forward their names to Josh Hall.
- Barney Ford or Josh Hall may be contacting certain staff, regarding someone in their network. Thank you in advance for providing the information, I appreciate your partnership. If you have questions about the 2020 Vision Campaign, please contact Barney Ford or Josh Hall.
We will keep you updated about the 2020 Vision Campaign through Inside InterVarsity and on the website. I hope you will keep up on our progress.
Thank you for the investment you are making in the lives of students and faculty each day. I appreciate your continued prayers.
Alec Hill, President
