Why Give to Bluffton
At Bluffton University, giving is more than a financial contribution—it’s an investment in students, faculty, and a mission grounded in discovery, community, respect, and service.
Your support strengthens the Bluffton experience today while ensuring future generations of students have access to transformative, values-based education.
2025-26 Strategic plan
Bluffton’s Pillars of Purpose campaign is a focused effort to strengthen the university’s future through stability, trust, hope, and compassion.
This campaign supports critical priorities such as academic enhancements, facility improvements, and student success initiatives—ensuring Bluffton continues to thrive for generations to come.
Learn more about the campaign.
Give to Pillars of Purpose
The Bluffton Fund
Unrestricted gifts to the Bluffton Fund provide essential, flexible support where it is needed most.
Bluffton Fund contributions help sustain:
- Student financial aid
- Faculty and academic programs
- Cross-cultural learning experiences
- Student life and campus community
- Arts and athletics programs
These gifts ensure Bluffton can respond to evolving needs while maintaining a strong, mission-driven educational experience.
Why it matters:
- Every student benefits from donor support
- A significant portion of students rely on financial aid
- Annual gifts directly impact the quality of education and campus life
Give to the Bluffton Fund
Affinity giving
Donors can direct their gifts to programs that reflect their personal passions:
TEAM Bluffton
TEAM Bluffton enhances Bluffton’s athletic programs by providing financial support for facility improvements, equipment purchases and special team development opportunities throughout the year. Founded in 2004, TEAM Bluffton serves student-athletes on and off the playing field.
Arts at Bluffton
Arts at Bluffton enhances Bluffton’s fine arts programs, supporting concerts in Yoder Hall, art exhibits in Sauder Visual Arts Center and theatre performances in Ramseyer Auditorium. Join Bluffton in expanding access to music, theatre, and visual arts experiences for campus and beyond.
Ways to Give
Bluffton offers multiple ways to support the university, including:
- Online gifts (one-time or recurring)
- Employer matching gifts
- Gifts of securities, real estate, or property
- Planned/legacy gifts through estate giving
Planned and legacy gifts provide an opportunity to make a lasting impact while aligning with your long-term financial and estate goals.
Gifts may be made securely online. Make a undesignated gift of any amount to be used where most needed, or select a designation of your choice. You may also create a donor account in order to create automatic, recurring monthly or annual gifts.
A simple trip to your employer’s Human Resources office could double your gift to Bluffton. Many companies match charitable contributions made by employees and retirees to nonprofit organizations, and Bluffton will credit you for that matching gift. This means you could qualify for President’s Society membership with an annual gift of $500 (instead of $1,000); for Graduates of the Last Decade, membership may begin as low as $125 plus a matching gift.
What do I do?
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Ask your HR office if your employer offers matching gifts.
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If you are giving online, create an account provide your employer’s name in the appropriate field.
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If you are giving by mail, request an application form and forward with your gift to Bluffton:
Bluffton University
Advancement Office
1 University Drive
Bluffton, OH 45817-2104.
Gifts-in-kind of securities, real estate or property require advance planning. These gifts can provide support for annual operations, scholarships, endowment or campaign projects. Examples include:
Securities: stocks, bonds or mutual funds. Please contact the Advancement Office for instructions on how to schedule a transfer of securities through your broker.
Real estate: principal residence, vacation home, farm, commercial building, building lots or land; all gifts of real estate require prior appraisal and university approval.
Property: equipment, grain and personal property; all gifts of property require prior appraisal and university approval.
By including Bluffton University in your will or estate plan, you can sustain Bluffton for future generations. A legacy gift is a commitment made during your lifetime that provides support at a later date, allowing you to make a meaningful impact while still meeting your family and financial goals.
Ways to make a Legacy Gift:
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Naming Bluffton in your will or living trust (a bequest)
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Establishing life income gifts, such as a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust, which provide income to you or your family
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Designating Bluffton as a beneficiary of your IRA
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Creating a charitable lead trust, which provides support to Bluffton for a set period before assets pass to your heirs, often with tax benefits
Bluffton University offers endowment opportunities for donors who wish to create a designated source of support for students, faculty, and programs. Endowed gifts provide long-term funding that can be directed toward specific purposes, such as scholarships or academic initiatives.
However, many donors choose to support the Bluffton Fund instead, which provides flexible, immediate resources that allow the university to respond to its most pressing needs each year. Unrestricted support through the Bluffton Fund helps sustain scholarships, academic programs, and the overall student experience across campus.
For more information about endowments or other ways to give, please contact the Advancement Office at advancement@bluffton.edu
Giving Societies
Bluffton recognizes and celebrates donors through giving societies that honor annual and lifetime giving.
These societies reflect the collective impact of Bluffton’s donor community and provide meaningful ways to stay connected.
President’s Society membership is open to all donors and organizations whose annual support amounts to $1,000 or more during the fiscal year, July 1-June 30.
President’s Society gifts support many programs at Bluffton, including scholarships, capital projects, endowment and the Bluffton Fund.
President’s Society members receive direct and personal contact from President Alex Sider and an invitation to the annual President’s Banquet at Homecoming, which includes both special recognition for President’s Society members and the alumni awards ceremony.
Individual President’s Society members receive credit for any matching money from their employer, and membership is held jointly by spouses.
Graduates of the Last Decade are invited to join the President’s Society with a smaller minimum gift, if you were enrolled in the traditional undergraduate program at Bluffton.
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First 5 years after graduation: President’s Society GOLD recognizes gifts totaling $250 or greater in a fiscal year
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Years 6-10 after graduation: President’s Society GOLD recognizes gifts totaling $500 or greater in a fiscal year
Individuals and organizations become Heritage members when their total lifetime giving to Bluffton reaches $25,000 or greater. They receive additional recognition for lifetime giving of $50,000, $100,000, $250,000, $500,000 and $1,000,000.
The Noah C. Hirschy Legacy Society recognizes donors who support the university with legacy commitments. od before assets pass to your heirs, often with tax benefits
Every gift—no matter the size—contributes to student success and strengthens Bluffton’s mission.
If you’re considering a gift or would like guidance on the best way to support Bluffton University, our Advancement team is here to assist you.
We’re happy to answer questions about:
- Making a gift or accessing the giving form
- Selecting a designation that aligns with your interests
- Matching gifts and employer contributions
- Planned and legacy giving options
- Giving societies and donor recognition
Reach out today to start a conversation about your giving goals.