PHOENIX, Feb. 20, 2025 ~ Grand Canyon University, a private Christian university in Phoenix, Arizona, has announced the launch of its first major fundraising campaign since reverting to its nonprofit status in 2018. The campaign, which will be officially kicked off during the university's 75th Anniversary Amethyst Gala celebration on Friday night, aims to raise funds to support GCU's mission of revitalizing the inner-city Phoenix neighborhood in which it resides.

What sets this fundraising campaign apart from others in higher education is that the funds will not be used for traditional causes such as endowments, new facilities or stadiums, investments in academic offerings, or operational expenses. Instead, the funds will go towards GCU's Five-Point Plan – a groundbreaking initiative launched in 2015 that focuses on transforming the surrounding community through various initiatives.

According to GCU President Brian Mueller, this fundraising campaign is an opportunity for the university to put others' needs before their own and continue their efforts towards transforming the community. "We have a financial model that has allowed us to run the university very efficiently and invest in infrastructure without relying on traditional revenue sources," said Mueller. "This fundraising campaign is instead an opportunity to put others' needs before our own and continue the remarkable efforts we have started that are transforming our surrounding community."

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The Five-Point Plan includes initiatives such as serving families in need by partnering with CityServe to provide free household goods worth $15.39 million to over 74,500 families in Arizona. This initiative is operated mostly by student and staff volunteers who work with GCU's partners to distribute goods from major retailers such as Costco and Home Depot.

Another aspect of the plan is making neighborhoods safer through a partnership with the City of Phoenix that has resulted in a 34% decrease in overall crime and a 20% decrease in violent crime over the past five years. GCU has also invested $170 million over the past decade towards redeveloping the Canyon Corridor, an area that was once known for prostitution and other criminal activities.

In addition to these initiatives, GCU has also provided funding and manpower to renovate 598 homes in the community through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. They have also offered free tutoring to over 6,650 K-12 students and awarded more than 1,000 full-tuition scholarships to low-income high school seniors through their Canyon Rising scholarship program.

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Furthermore, GCU has created job opportunities for recent graduates and local residents through its 10 business enterprises, including a golf course, hotel, restaurants, and merchandise companies. The university also offers free rent at its business incubator space, Canyon Ventures, which currently houses 17 start-up businesses.

Mueller emphasized that the Five-Point Plan is not just a conceptual initiative but is already producing real results and impacting lives in the community. He also sees this fundraising campaign as an opportunity to bring people together amidst the current divisive climate on college campuses. "As Christians, serving others is a shared value," said Mueller. "This is an opportunity to love our neighbors and come together in a way that brings prosperity and human flourishing."

With this fundraising campaign, GCU hopes to continue and expand their efforts towards transforming the community while also bringing people together for a common cause. As they celebrate their 75th anniversary, the university looks forward to making a positive impact on their surrounding neighborhood through their Five-Point Plan.

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