Spring Arbor University (SAU) is thrilled to announce it has surpassed $70 million in its fundraising initiative, Ignite: The Campaign for Spring Arbor University. Fueled by the extraordinary generosity of alumni, friends, and community partners all of whom are dedicated to the future of Christian higher education at Spring Arbor University, the university also announces a revised goal of $80 million.

“We are incredibly excited to witness the profound impact this campaign is already having on our campus.” said campaign co-chairs Robert Gould ’76 and Sherry Roe-Gould ’79. “A central theme of Ignite is ensuring our students have the resources to enter STEM fields with technical competency and with a lifelong commitment to impacting the world for Christ. One component of that is the modernization of the Whiteman Gibbs Science Center.”

Guided by years of strategic planning, the Ignite Campaign aims to provide critical resources for students both now and for generations to come. The campaign rests on three primary pillars: modernization and expansion of the Whiteman Gibbs Science Center, significant growth of the university’s endowment, and ongoing support for students through the Arbor Fund. Each pillar reinforces SAU’s mission to offer an affordable education that prepares graduates to impact the world for Christ and his Kingdom.

"We give thanks to God for what He is doing through the Ignite Campaign," said SAU President Dr. Brent Ellis. "Reaching $70 million is a reminder that this work has never been ours alone — it is God who is stirring hearts and inspiring this remarkable generosity. Our alumni, friends, and partners are responding to that call, supporting an education with Christ as the perspective for learning, and investing in students who will be faithful ambassadors in their communities, their homes, and their callings. As we look toward our $80 million goal, we move forward not with mere optimism but with confidence in the One who began this good work and who will see it through to completion.”

In addition to reaching $70 million of the revised goal, Spring Arbor University is proud to announce the successful completion of the endowment pillar of the Ignite Campaign. By meeting this specific goal, the university has secured vital long-term funding. The endowment provides permanent support for academic programs and student scholarships, ensuring the SAU experience remains affordable and accessible for future generations.

Campaign co-chairs Ron and Marvel Jones, long-standing advocates for the Jackson community, emphasized the lasting importance of this achievement. “Building a stronger endowment is a critical investment in the future of our students,” said Ron. “It provides the foundation necessary to meet the needs of our community by supporting the remarkable students who are becoming leaders in their fields. We believe deeply in the power of Christian higher education to shape these future leaders, and a robust endowment ensures that legacy continues.”