The Brighter Light Campaign set and exceeded its goal not once, but twice, and became K’s most successful fundraising effort ever.

What a difference six years can make. The Brighter Light Campaign, which began quietly in 2018 and launched publicly in 2021, set out to make a transformative impact on the campus and community of Kalamazoo College. And at the campaign’s end, there are scholarships, professorships, new and refurbished spaces, resources for study abroad and senior projects—endowments that will last forever and opportunities that will carry on for generations.

Individuals and organizations that believe wholeheartedly in K’s tradition of liberal arts, experiential education, and international and intercultural experiences gave generously. Even through the challenge of a global pandemic, our community answered the call. When our $150 million goal was surpassed, we set a $190 million goal to mark our 190th year. And our supporters exceeded it.

As excited and grateful as we are to share the numbers below, the true success of our campaign is reflected in the stories of students, faculty and staff, who, thanks to your generosity, are able to pursue their dreams, develop their talents, further their scholarship, strengthen their teaching and bring a brighter light to the world. You make that possible. Lux Esto!

• BrighterOpportunities • BrighterMinds •

• BrighterExperiences •

The Brighter Light Campaign raised over $90 million to create Brighter Experiences for K students through campus improvements, athletics, arts programs and the Kalamazoo College Fund.

Efforts to enhance our beautiful and historic campus with welcoming and modernized spaces for students to live, learn and play are already underway. Stetson Chapel renovation, construction of the natatorium, and a new roof for Dow Science Center are complete.

Many classrooms have received technology upgrades along with new paint, flooring, and furniture that supports collaborative and active learning, and those improvements continue. Less visible yet no less important, improvements including new electrical infrastructure and more efficient heating and cooling systems make other projects possible across campus.

For Hornet student-athletes, who comprise 33% of K’s student population, growth in endowed and annual funding means better equity across programs—including improvements to women’s locker rooms; office space improvement; and more robust program budgets, which (among other things) help with equipment and uniforms, travel expenses and meals, and recruiting and retaining coaches. For K musicians, the keyboard renewal project funded the restoration of the College’s fleet of performance pianos, added new baby grand pianos to classroom and studio spaces, and updated the instrument collection in many of our practice rooms, enhancing the quality of pianos and keyboards for practice, advanced study, and performances.

Looking to the future, a $30 million gift from an anonymous donor is making it possible for K to imagine new inclusive residential spaces, replacing dormitories designed for the campus experience of 50–100 years ago. While planning for the College’s first new residence hall since Crissey Hall opened its doors in 1967, K seeks to create residential life programs that embed K-Plan program resources, build living-learning spaces into residence halls and serve as a bridge to the local community.

Gifts to the Kalamazoo College Fund contributed $23.7 million to our historic campaign. Each contribution, regardless of size, immediately impacts the student experience, allowing K to address emerging priorities and areas of greatest need—opening doors, igniting potential and nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators. Thank you for your support!