Goshen College President Rebecca Stoltzfus speaks at the Friday, Oct. 4, public announcement of the Connected Cause campaign at an event in the downtown Goshen Theater during the college’s Homecoming Weekend. The campaign’s goal is to raise $68 million by the end of 2026, and $60 million has already been contributed during the campaign’s quiet phase. Photo provided.

News Release

GOSHEN — Goshen College recently announced the launch of the public phase of “Connected Cause: The Campaign for Goshen College” and seeks to raise a total of $68 million in new gifts for this comprehensive campaign by the end of 2026.

“Connected Cause is rooted in the mission and values that have guided Goshen College for more than 130 years,” said President Rebecca Stoltzfus. “It is designed to support thriving students, integrating academic excellence with real-world learning and active love for God and neighbor.”

During the announcement in the midst of special Homecoming Weekend festivities on Oct. 4-5, Stoltzfus shared that the college has already received over $60 million in gifts or pledges during Connected Cause’s quiet phase, which began in 2021.

“We have been quietly fundraising for this campaign over the past three years and I am grateful for the amazing generosity of our many supporters,” said Stoltzfus. “We are now excited to announce Connected Cause publicly and invite all of our alumni, friends and community members to join us over the next two years to ensure excellence in the classroom, a greater transformative presence in our community, and a beautiful, inviting and inclusive campus for generations of students to come.”

Connected Cause targets seven priorities:

• State-of-the-Art Nursing & Public Health Facility ($13.4 million goal) — Growing enrollment that addresses the healthcare workforce crisis.
• Campus & Facilities Renewal ($19 million goal) — Enhancing beautiful and collaborative spaces across campus.
• Scholarships & Student Success ($12 million goal) — Opening doors of access for generations of students.
• Global and Local Community Engagement ($5 million goal) — Creating enduring partnerships for learning and service.
• Academic Excellence ($3 million goal) — Sustaining a rich liberal arts tradition that engages the world.
• Expanding Athletics ($3.1 million goal) — Improving athletic facilities to foster growth, pride and community.
• Goshen College Fund ($12.5 million goal) — Supporting faculty and students annually.

“We have an amazing amount of momentum and there is truly much to celebrate about the support we have already received,” said Jodi Beyeler, vice president for institutional advancement. “And we still have a lot of work to do! We want to involve all of our alumni, friends and community members in the importance of the Connected Cause, because every gift makes a difference towards supporting the college’s mission, students and future.”

Connected Cause is being led by a steering committee that includes: Gerry ’72 (chair) and Linda Horst ’74 of New Holland, Pennsylvania; Tom ’69 and Trinda Bishop ’69 of Denver, Colorado; Steve and Victoria Brenneman of Goshen; Margaret Jeschke ’89 and Bart Miller ’90 of Oak Park, Illinois; Kevin Miller ’85 and Rebecca Stoltzfus ’83 of Goshen; Shirley and Stuart Showalter of Lititz, Pennsylvania; Joy Sutter ’81 of Harleysville, Pennsylvania; and Ann ’85 and Pat Vendrely ’85 of Goshen.