Updated: October 28 at 7:32 P.M.

“A Soul of Conviction, A Voice of Courage,” Biola’s fundraising campaign, aims for a more affordable and accessible experience for students and parents with a goal of $180 million by the end of 2016. As Biola embarks on a national fundraising tour, it continues to grow closer to its goal.

The Tour

According to the campaign’s website, the department of advancement, which is responsible for raising financial support for the university, has already reached $158.7 million since its beginning five years ago. On May 9, 2015, nearly $4 million was raised toward The Campaign during a black-tie fundraiser gala held at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Biola has since reached 88.2 percent of the $180 million goal. With another year left, Biola has planned a strategic 11 city national tour in order to raise the last $21.3 million.

The tour has been to Newport Beach, Riverside and San Diego, Calif. with a goal to raise $20,000 at each location. So far, the average goal for each stop has been exceeded, with a total of $90,000 raised between the three cities.

“The response to the program has been really successful. We have had no less than a 75 percent response rate from guests who come and end up making [a] gift that night,” said Kira McCracken, director of advancement communications and donor relations.

The tour will travel to different cities and states over the course of the next year.

“We essentially looked at our highest concentration of alumni and parents of the alumni throughout the country and put it on a map. Where we saw a ton of density, we chose those locations to bring the campaign to,” McCracken said.

The Campaign

Even if the $180 million goal is reached before the end of The Campaign, the tour will continue until the established end date of December 2016.

Tyler Hormel, a senior business administration major who helped out with The Campaign last year, expressed that their efforts are likely to succeed.

“They are at a close $150 million right now and the kick-off night raised a lot right away, so that was helpful to get them on their way,” Hormel said.

Donors have four main categories to choose from when giving financially and in each main category there are more specific subcategories.

Adam Morris, vice president of university advancement explained the uniqueness of this campaign compared to Biola’s past fundraising efforts.

“This is what we call a comprehensive campaign. We are not raising money for one project only… this is the first comprehensive campaign where donors have a lot of options,” Morris said.

The Dream

President Barry Corey shared during the launch of The Campaign that it is his dream for Biola to be more affordable and more globally accessible.

“The university is doing a lot of work on the accessibility side right now to prepare ourselves to have far more robust programs in the area [of] online education,” Morris said. “That enhanced technology will help support the infrastructure required for us to do more online education.”

Students can participate in ways other than financial donation.

“I would just ask that this student body be in prayer for this campaign…. We hope the Lord will continue to show His favor and continue to bless the work that will enhance the university,” Morris said.

Morris and McCracken announced another campaign will be launched following this one. They plan to roll over any category that does not reached its goal during the current campaign. The department of advancement is still in the process of figuring out the details of the future campaign.