Anonymous donor gives $1 million to Northwestern’s Imagine Campaign

An anonymous donor has committed $1 million toward construction of a new learning commons at Northwestern College.

The gift, announced Feb. 1, brings the total raised for Northwestern’s $30 million Imagine Campaign to just over $9 million. Of that amount, $6.4 million is earmarked for the learning commons.

Northwestern is currently in the silent phase of the largest fund-raising efforts in its history. Central to the campaign is $20 million for the learning commons, a building that will house the college’s library, technology center, classrooms, writing center and special collections archives, along with an auditorium, coffee shop and prayer chapel.

Another $5 million is earmarked for new academic programs, positions and facilities; $3 million will help renovate the Rowenhorst Student Center; and $2 million will go toward Northwestern’s endowment.

While a timeline for the Imagine Campaign hasn’t been finalized, college officials are anticipating a five-year campaign. Major gifts received so far include $2 million from Marvin and Jerene DeWitt of Zeeland, Mich., and $1.3 million from the estate of Charlie and Cordelia Boyd of Maurice, Iowa.