Steadfast Faith Brochure by John Brown University

Dear Friends of JBU,

Each year, several hundred new students arrive at JBU during some of their most formative years. We have the tremendous honor and responsibility of guiding these young adults through their college journey as they discover their callings, prepare for their futures and strengthen their faith.

This important work would not be possible without the prayer and support from our faithful and generous alumni, parents and friends. Thank you!

JBU remains committed to providing a biblically-based education that prepares people to honor God and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives. The heritage of “Christ Over All” and “Head, Heart, Hand” continues in our second century of service to the young men and women whom God brings to our university each year.

To continue this heritage, we are extending our Steadfast Faith capital campaign an additional year to seek support for scholarships, endowment, new construction and renovation building projects, and revocable estate commitments, raising the goal from 100 million to 140 million dollars. With this investment, the Steadfast Faith Campaign will help JBU better serve students and strengthen the institution for the future.

We deeply appreciate you considering the possibility of partnering with us in equipping the next generation of teachers, nurses, engineers, pastors, artists, musicians and business leaders. Your generosity is truly appreciated, and we are committed to faithfully stewarding the gifts you provide.

Dr. Charles W. Pollard

Largest Departments:

Business - 249

Visual Arts - 161

Nursing – 127

Engineering - 122

Bible and Ministry – 94

A Glance at JBU Today

Top 5 States:

Arkansas – 495

Oklahoma – 197

Texas – 129

Kansas – 118

Missouri – 95

Top 5 Countries:

Costa Rica – 23

El Salvador – 17

Honduras – 16

Guatemala – 13

Mexico – 11

Athletics:

JBU competes in the NAIA in the following intercollegiate sports:

Men and Women’s: Soccer

Basketball

Esports

Cross Country

Track and Field

Tennis

Women’s Volleyball

Our students come from all over the world to receive a “Head, Heart, Hand” education. As they prepare for their futures in the classroom, they also grow personally, professionally and spiritually while engaging in the campus community. In between classes and studying, students are involved in athletics, intramurals, student government, chapel, campus ministries, retreats and mission trips. Faculty and staff are devoted to helping students understand their studies in the context of their Christian faith and their callings as disciples of Christ.

National Recognition:

John Brown University was ranked best in the state, according to The Wall Street Journal’s 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S.

JBU received an A+ financial grade from Forbes Magazine (2023)

Money Magazine named JBU the best value amont private universities in a four-state region (2023).

“This campaign will strengthen JBU’s mission by helping keep JBU affordable and providing quality facilities and generous scholarships for students. Our team is honored and humbled to partner with our faithful supporters during this exciting time in JBU’s history.”

Jim Krall, Senior Vice President for University Advancement

The Steadfast Faith Campaign follows two previous campaigns that were instrumental in significantly increasing student scholarships, improving campus facilities and strengthening educational opportunities and programs. The Keeping Faith Campaign raised $18 million above the original goal of $100 million. Completed in 2019, the Campaign for the Next Century, surpassed its goal of $125 million with a total of $156 million in gifts and future estate bequests.

All of this progress would not be possible without God’s blessings demonstrated through the generous support of JBU alumni, parents and friends.

Steadfast Faith Campaign

JBU has extended the to receive $140 million in gifts and future estates

to fund

> student scholarships > key construction and renovation projects > programs > estate commitments

Over seven years, JBU will seek gifts to transform the educational experience for current and future generations of JBU students.

Completed Projects

Cathedral of the Ozarks

JBU renovated the exterior of the Cathedral of the Ozarks in 2008, but the interior of the chapel had only minor repairs and upgrades since 1991. The cathedral pews and woodwork were refinised, the stage and carpet were replaced, upgrades were made to technology and acoustics, and the entrance lobby was renovated to create a wonderful worship space for JBU’s chapel program and annual Candelight Service.

Purchase and Renovation of Lakeside Manor

In 2021, JBU purchased and renovated an academic study center in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Lakeside Manor provides housing, classrooms and dining facilities for 20-25 students in JBU’s study abroad program and for a variety of JBU overseas ministry programs as well as student programs from other CCCU universities.

Witcofski-McLeod Champions Pavilion

JBU’s soccer programs have grown in excellence and appeal with crowds regularly exceeding 500 people and occasionally over 1,000. Previously, we had limited facilities (single-stall restrooms) to serve these programs and their fans. JBU has constructed a new pavilion including restrooms, covered seating, ADA access and entrance and a concession area to meet these needs.

Bynum Theater

Esports is the fastest growing student activity in the US, with over 80% of high school students regularly playing. JBU has an active club team and intramural leagues with over 100 students participating in weekend tournaments. JBU is expanding its program to varsity competition and has renovated and equipped Bynum Theater to create a first class venue for esports competitions.

Current Projects

JBU has identified projects to improve the educational, extracurricular and spiritual lives of students. These construction and financial goals are intended to support the ongoing vision of JBU to integrate faith and learning, foster holistic Christian formation, promote professional studies and liberal arts education, and prepare people to follow Christ’s call to serve others in all areas of life.

JBU seeks gifts to cover all of its construction costs rather than rely on student tuition.

Mabee Learning Resource Center

The LRC was built in 1980 and is the only significant building on campus that has not been renovated in the last 20 years. JBU plans to create a new “one-stop” academic support center to provide students with all of the services they need to succeed academically at JBU (tutoring, writing center, media lab, study rooms, library and individual and group study areas). This project will also create a sound stage for JBU’s film production majors and informal spaces for students to gather, including a coffee shop and student organizational offices.

Number of Gifts

Size of Gifts

$10,000 $5,000

$2,500-$1,000

Health Education Building Expansion

Nursing Program Growth

Since launching in 2014, JBU has committed to educating highly skilled, BSN-trained nursing graduates. Today, the nursing program is the largest major at JBU, with over 100 students enrolled and a strong track record of graduates securing jobs within the state.

Today, there are over 2,000 open registered nurse positions in Arkansas. In an effort to reduce this nursing shortage, JBU is undertaking a significant expansion of the nursing program as part of the Steadfast Faith Campaign. This project aims to upgrade equipment and increase office, classroom, and computer lab space to support this expansion.

With an anticipated program growth of 30-50% over the next five years, JBU plans to produce 8-12 more BSN-trained nurses annually, resulting in 40-60 additional graduates in five years. The State of Arkansas has already contributed $2,328,250 towards this critical expansion, demonstrating strong support for JBU’s efforts to alleviate the nursing shortage and improve patient outcomes across the state. These funds will be utilized for construction costs to expand JBU’s existing Health Education Building and to upgrade simulation and lab equipment so our nursing students continue to receive a cutting-edge, high-quality education.

Expansion of IT-Related Programs

JBU launched computer science and cybersecurity majors in 2020. They have grown by over 50% per year to 100 majors (and 25 minors). JBU also launched an artificial intelligence major in fall 2024, which is the first artificial intelligence B.S. program offered by an Arkansas institution, and is already enrolling 10 students in its inaugural year.

The 2022-2026 NW Arkansas Regional Strategy identified 3,000 open tech jobs in the region with “a clear need for local talent development.” In order to continue the accelerated enrollment growth of these IT-related programs and meet the workforce needs of our region, JBU needs new office, classroom, and computer lab space. The university will add a new two-story wing to the existing Health Education Building on campus, one floor of which will be dedicated to expanding these degree offerings.

This floor will be approximately 7,500 square feet with construction costs estimated at $3 - $3.5 million.

Within the new space, JBU will add a classroom and two computer labs, all equipped with HyFlex technology. This technology will allow our professors to teach both in-person and online simultaneously, as well as facilitate asynchronous classes via recorded lectures. These HyFlex-ready classrooms are a key enabler in our efforts to expand our online IT-related programs to working professionals who want to gain new skills reflected in a degree or micro-credentials and to dual enrollment high school students. Dual enrollment courses are offered at no cost to high school students through a state scholarship. Furthermore, JBU will invest in curricular development to expand our IT offerings, ensuring we can upskill a wide range of existing employees.

JBU is the only Christian university in the United States to offer a degree in Artificial Intelligence and one of only about a dozen programs nationwide.

Endowed Scholarships

JBU seeks to provide excellent Christian education at a reasonable cost, but we know that JBU families are still stretched financially to send their students to JBU. JBU prioritizes endowed scholarships in its capital campaigns so that it can partner with families to make JBU affordable. In the Steadfast Faith Campaign, we have set a goal of receiving $20 million in cash gifts.

Endowed scholarships provide lasting financial support to current and future generations of students. The scholarship principle is invested in JBU’s endowment and a spending percentage (approximately 4.25%) is awarded each year to eligible students.

Academic Endowments

Academic endowments play an important role in JBU’s financial sustainability by providing a stable source of non-tuition revenue. Endowed chairs and programs help increase quality and attract and retain top faculty, and reduce annual budget costs. They also serve as a financial safeguard during economic downturns, ensuring the continuity of academic excellence and reduce dependence on tuition and fees, making education more assessable and affordable for students.

Key Features:

You create a permanent, named scholarship.

You select the criteria that a student must meet to be eligible for your scholarship.

Future gifts may be given to the scholarship to further increase its value and impact.

You receive an annual stewardship report containing your scholarship’s financial details and student recipient information.

Gifts of $10,000 or more can establish an endowed scholarship and are matched. This match is broad in scope, meaning almost all existing endowed scholarships at JBU meet the criteria to be eligible for matching funds.

Founder’s Circle

Established in 2000, the JBU Founder’s Circle is a group of dedicated alumni, friends and parents who support JBU in three ways:

Pray: Commit to pray for JBU

Promote: Promote the university to potential students

Provide: Contribute a minimum of $1,000 annually to the JBU Scholarship Fund of the University Fund. Many, however, choose to invest more.

Each year, Founder’s Circle members receive a custom report detailing the impact of your financial gift. The report includes an update directly from a JBU student receiving support from the JBUSF. Members are invited to the annual Scholarship Dinner to meet these scholarship recipients.

JBU Scholarship Fund

The JBUSF makes a direct investment in the lives of JBU students by making JBU more affordable through need-based scholarships and work-study jobs. One of JBU’s core values has always been to provide the highest quality education at the most affordable cost. Giving to the JBUSF ensures that 100 percent of your gift directly helps students who have financial need.

Become a Member

To join the JBU Founder’s Circle, simply visit jbu.edu/ joinfc. Gifts may be made via check, credit or debit card, or automatic draft.

Ways to Give

Cash Gifts

Cash gifts are the most popular and straightforward way to support JBU. Your gift can immediately benefit the area of your choice. Visit www.jbu.edu/giveonline to make a gift by credit card or echeck. Does your employer have a matching gift program? If yes, this can be a wonderful way to increase the impact of your gift to JBU.

Appreciated Securities

Giving appreciated stock or mutual funds that you have owned for more than one year allows you to support JBU’s mission while benefiting from a charitable deduction. You may reduce, or even eliminate, federal capital gains taxes on the transfer.

Real Estate

When you donate a house, land, rental property or commercial building to JBU, you receive a federal income tax deduction equal to the property’s full fair market value and eliminate capital gains tax on its appreciation.

Wills and Trusts

JBU would not be where it is today without the generous estate gifts that have helped sustain and grow the university. Estate gifts have provided scholarships, improved campus facilities and helped build a lasting endowment.

An estate bequest is a provision in your will or revocable trust that provides a gift to JBU at your death. You can specify a specific dollar amount or asset or designate a certain percentage of your estate to support JBU. You maintain the freedom and flexibility to make changes and updates during your lifetime to ensure your goals and wishes are properly carried out as part of your legacy.

Our planned giving team can work with you and your attorney or advisors to provide sample language for naming JBU as a charitable beneficiary in your estate plan.

PhilanthroCorp

JBU has partnered with PhilanthroCorp since 2014 to guide alumni and friends through all stages of the estate planning process. With proper planning, you can safeguard yourself and your loved ones while meeting your goals as a steward of God’s resources. PhilanthroCorp offers a confidential service at absolutely no cost to you. PhilanthroCorp will help you design or modify your will or estate plan, just like they have for dozens of people within the JBU community. Learn more at www.philanthrocorp.com or contact them directly at (800) 876-7958.

FreeWill

JBU has partnered with FreeWill to offer you a seamless, no-cost way to create a legal will. Planning for the future is crucial, and a well-crafted will ensures your estate is managed according to your wishes, providing clarity and reducing complications for your loved ones. With FreeWill’s intuitive, free estate planning tools, you can secure your family’s future, support your community, and leave a lasting legacy.

“PhilanthroCorp helped us update our estate plan to make sure the resources God has entrusted to us will be properly stewarded after we are gone. Through careful planning, we were able to take care of our family and support some of our favorite causes, like JBU. PhilanthroCorp provided a wonderful service to our family.”

Marvin and Debbie Spees, Board of Trustees Chairman

Retained Life Estate

You can irrevocably transfer your personal residence or farm to JBU but retain the right to occupy (or rent out) the property for the rest of your life, while receiving an immediate federal income tax charitable deduction for a portion of your home’s value. You continue paying the real estate taxes, insurance and maintenance fees on the property. Upon your passing, JBU would take possession and the proceeds from the sale of the property would support JBU in the area you designate.

Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

Individuals age 70 ½ and older can make direct transfers (up to $100,000 each calendar year) from their individual retirement account (IRA) to qualified charitable organizations like JBU. A direct transfer to JBU generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so there is benefit even if you do not itemize your tax deductions. Amounts given in this way count toward required IRA minimum withdrawal amounts for the year of the gift. You can also remember JBU in your future plans by naming us as a charitable beneficiary of your retirement account, providing you with a tax-wise and creative way to support the university with a future gift.

Donor Advised Fund

A donor advised fund (DAF) allows you to make a charitable gift now, receive immediate charitable deduction and still have the flexibility and freedom to later recommend how your gift will be distributed to your favorite qualified charitable organizations. Certain requirements and restrictions apply.

Did you know there are several charitable giving options that provide you with life income, charitable deduction and the opportunity to support JBU with a generous deferred gift?

Charitable Remainder Unitrust

A charitable remainder unitrust (CRT) provides you with lifetime income from assets you irrevocably donate to a newly-created charitable trust. You receive a fixed percentage of the value of the trust, usually 5-7% annually. JBU matches CRT gifts at 70% of the value of the CRT. A CRT can be funded with a variety of assets, including cash, appreciated securities or real estate. The remaining value of the CRT will transfer to JBU at the time of the donor’s passing.

Charitable Gift Annuity

A charitable gift annuity (CGA) provides lifetime income. In exchange for an irrevocable gift of cash or appreciated assets, JBU agrees to pay guaranteed fixed income to one or two individuals each year for life. Our team can provide you with a detailed gift illustration showing your benefits based on gift timing, age, gift amount and the type of asset being donated. JBU matches CGA’s at 70% of the value of the CGA.

IRA Charitable Gift Annuity

Since January 1, 2023, people who are 701/2 or older may make a one-time, tax-free gift from their IRAs of up to $50,000 (up to $100,000 for a couple) to a charitable gift annuity (CGA). This life-income gift, called a legacy IRA QCD, is different from the standard QCD’s approved in the initial SECURE Act.

“As we moved into our retirement years, we made the decision to support JBU by establishing a new charitable gift annuity each year. This gift option allows us to support JBU while also benefitting from guaranteed life income and a charitable tax deduction.”

John E. Brown III and Stephania Brown

President Emeritus and Former First Lady of JBU

Our team in University Advancement has the special privilege of building lasting relationships with alumni, parents and friends of the university. Whether you have supported JBU for many years or are considering your first gift, we are available to answer your questions, help you accomplish your giving goals and provide the information you need to impact current and future generations of students.