Robert A. Berkhof has been appointed the new Vice President for Development at Calvin College. His appointment was officially approved at this past weekend's meetings of the Calvin Board of Trustees, a 31-member board with representation from across North America.

Berkhof, 48, is a Grand Rapids native and a 1972 graduate of Calvin. In 1973 he graduated with honors from the Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science. He began working at Calvin in 1986 as Director of Special Gifts -- after a 15-year career as a funeral director in Grand Rapids. One of his first tasks was to raise almost $1 million to help Calvin purchase 134 acres of land east of the East Beltline.

He also spearheaded fundraising efforts for the Calvin College Chapel and worked in several critical areas of The Campaign for Calvin College, a major capital campaign that saw Calvin raise almost $60 million for endowment, scholarships, financial aid and more.

In his new position Berkhof will oversee Calvin's entire fundraising operation, a venture that includes a full-time staff of 16 responsible for raising about $17 million per year. Calvin is in the midst of fundraising efforts for its Life Sciences Center and Engineering Projects Building, both of which are under construction. Construction of a new Communication Arts and Science Center and a new Conference Center both are on the horizon, thanks to $10 million lead gifts from the DeVos and Prince family foundations respectively.

"There will be many challenges with this new position," said Berkhof, "but also many opportunities to grow. I'm excited about the opportunity to make a difference at an institution I really care about. We have a young, but loyal, staff and together we're working with a visionary leadership team. The key to fundraising is building relationships. In order to be successful we must have a professional staff offering a quality product. I am confident we have both.

"I believe that development will take on an increasingly expanded role in the future of Christian higher education and as a result we can expect more and more pressure to be placed on fundraising efforts. At Calvin the need for more financial aid is ever on the increase, while sources of funding from federal and state programs are on the decline. To stay current in the marketplace, new buildings will need to be constructed and older facilities will need renovation. Equipment and technology need to be upgraded. Faculty must stay on the cutting edge in order for academic excellence to be maintained. All of this requires significant funding and institutions like Calvin will have no alternative but to turn to the private sector for increased support."

Berkhof, whose previous duties at Calvin included work as Director of Special Gifts, Director of Development and, most recently, as Executive Associate to the President, is a board member of the West Michigan Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives, a board member at Mary Free Bed Hospital, a member of the Mission Advancement Committee for the Grand Rapids Christian Schools and chair of the Building Expansion Fundraising Committee at his church, Plymouth Heights Christian Reformed Church.

He and his wife Linda have two children: Jennifer, a Calvin graduate now teaching in Illinois, and Kimberly, a junior secondary education major at Calvin.