BGU | Fundraising Handbook

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Way Forward Campaign Fundraising Handbook

January 2025

INTRODUCTION

As we embark on the Way Forward Campaign , we are proud to present a new fundraising manual, a comprehensive resource describing Ben-Gurion University’s (BGU) key funding priorities. Designed to support our dedicated fundraisers and partners – both professional staff and lay leaders – this guide aims to enhance your efforts in building awareness and securing support for BGU’s mission across the globe. The Way Forward Campaign will ensure BGU’s growth and development in the years ahead. This initiative will empower BGU to implement its strategic plan and achieve its vision of becoming one of the world’s leading research institutions and Israel’s foremost university in research, education, and societal impact. Following the events of October 7, 2023, BGU’s role in the Negev has become even more critical. For over 50 years, the University has been a driving force in the region’s economic and social development. Today, BGU is leading the rebuilding and revitalizing of the Negev, playing an essential role in fostering resilience, wellbeing, and a promising future for the region. The Way Forward Campaign will enable BGU to fulfill this expanded role while unlocking the potential of our beloved Negev. This manual provides an overview of BGU’s primary funding priorities, offering insights into why these specific areas were prioritized and how donors can make meaningful contributions. Rather than delving into every specific project or fundraising opportunity, it offers a high-level perspective to help fundraisers and associates understand how advancing these priorities will enable the University to thrive in the decades to come. BGU is a large and diverse institution, committed to education, research, and community engagement. While the manual does not describe every funding need, it highlights the most significant priorities aligned with the Way Forward Campaign. It is important to recognize that Israel’s dynamic situation demands adaptability. The University’s strategic plan and Way Forward Campaign objectives were conceived well before October 7, 2023, and our immediate funding needs have evolved in response. Similarly, the priorities outlined here are flexible and may be adjusted as circumstances require. We hope this manual serves as an indispensable tool, deepening your understanding of BGU’s funding priorities and equipping you to champion the University’s mission effectively. The team at BGU’s Strategic Planning and Resource Development Department is ready to provide further details about any of these priorities and individual opportunities associated with them. Our hope is that this guide empowers you to identify the perfect opportunity to inspire and engage each supporter. We are confident that there is at least one funding priority or associated project that will appeal to each potential donor.

PRIORITY FUNDRAISING AREAS

1. CAPITAL FUNDING PROJECTS 1.1 North Campus Development..................................................................................................................................4 1.2 Marcus Family Campus Renovations................................................................................................................8 1.3 Sde Boker and Eilat Campus Development................................................................................................11 1.4 Labs, Classrooms and Equipment....................................................................................................................14 1.5 Campus Beautification............................................................................................................................................17 2. STUDENT ACCESS AND SUPPORT 2.1 Undergraduate Scholarships..............................................................................................................................19 2.2 Postgraduate Fellowships...................................................................................................................................22 2.3 Internationalization .................................................................................................................................................24 2.4 Diversity and Inclusion .........................................................................................................................................27 2.5 Community Uplift and Social Action..............................................................................................................31 3. ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE 3.1 Research Capacity and Expansion.................................................................................................................35 3.2 Faculty Recruitment and Support..................................................................................................................38 3.3 Innovation and Entrepreneurship....................................................................................................................41 3.4 Academic Programs.................................................................................................................................................47

1. CAPITAL FUNDING PROJECTS

1.1 NORTH CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT Realizing the potential of an amazing asset

The Need While BGU achieved a major milestone in 2022, when it reached the building capacity of the Marcus Family Campus, the University continues to grow. Our student population is increasing, our researchers’ expertise and research output is expanding, new faculty members are being recruited, and collaborations are flourishing. To accommodate this growth, new facilities are needed. Our ability to recruit additional faculty members and students relies on the construction of new teaching labs, classrooms, and dormitories for our students,

new research labs and offices for our faculty, and new buildings to house them. Fortunately, BGU is blessed with an invaluable resource – the North Campus – a large plot of land that will double the University’s footprint in Beer-Sheva. Located between the Marcus Family Campus and the Advanced Technologies Park (ATP), the North Campus will enable the University to create the state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities needed to ensure its future

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response to the social protests in Israel demanding, among other things, affordable housing for students. The Drahi Innovation and Entrepreneurship Building, which will enable BGU to expand its efforts to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship on campus, will ensure that our future graduates are equipped with both the education and entrepreneurship skills needed to compete in today’s job market and advance Israel in the years ahead. The North Campus will also facilitate meeting the requirements of new technologies and the research and solutions they enable. New technologies are emerging all the time, placing increased demands on our research and teaching infrastructure and necessitating the construction of new facilities with unique specifications. For example, AI research requires dedicated high performance computing (HPC) facilities centralizing the connectivity and equipment needed to perform complex calculations and process the vast amounts of data driving large language models like ChatGPT. With the requirements of technologies still on the horizon unknown, the North Campus will provide the flexibility to innovate and adapt to meet new demands. In essence, the North Campus provides fertile ground upon which to build state-of-the-art facilities – fully equipped classrooms, auditoriums, learning centers, and teaching and research labs that meet the needs of today’s students and researchers and facilitate the development of the solutions required to meet both today’s challenges and those on the horizon. Its development will accommodate the growth in student numbers expected in the next few years and coming decades, enabling the education of future generations, and facilitate the recruitment of the faculty members and researchers who will educate and inspire these students and perform research in the cutting-edge facilities of the North Campus. In doing so, the development of the North Campus will most certainly increase the University’s capacity for global impact, strengthen BGU’s ability to fulfill David Ben-Gurion’s vision for the Negev, and enable the University to realize its potential for the future of Israel and the future of the world. Enlisting Support for North Campus Development The plans for the first phase of North Campus development have long been in place. The Student Village was the first project completed, with students first occupying their apartments at the Student Village at

growth and serve the large influx of new students on the horizon (given the IDF’s move to the South and the increase in enrollment, a trend which we are confident will continue) and the faculty members that will instruct and guide them. The North Campus is a remarkable resource that other institutions of higher learning around the world can only dream of. But its value lies in its development and use to educate the students who will lead and shape Israel in the future, advance research in a wide range of domains, strengthen existing areas of research expertise and build new ones, revitalize and rebuild the Negev region, enhance the ecosystem of innovation developing in Beer-Sheva, and further advance the University and the State of Israel. BGU’s Commitment to Developing the North Campus The development of the North Campus is also critical to BGU’s ability to implement its strategic plan and achieve its goals of becoming one of the world’s top research institutions and Israel’s leading university in terms of research, teaching, and contribution to society; the recruitment of top researchers and students, which is central to fulfilling the strategic plan, relies on state-of-the-art facilities – labs, classrooms, and dorms – and infrastructure, all of which are designated for the North Campus. In addition to being vital to the University’s growth and development over the next 50 years, the transformative North Campus project is linked to the IDF’s move South, the continued expansion of the ATP, and Beer-Sheva’s emergence as an Innovation District, all of which are taking place in partnership with BGU. Each will increase demand for research collaboration, educational programs, and facilities which the development of the North Campus will make possible. As a result, the University is deeply committed to the development of the North Campus. The North Campus holds great promise, allowing us to dream big in our plans, with the aim of meeting the needs of the students and researchers of the future – those who will take Israel to even greater heights in the decades to come. The Student Village, which was the first project completed, did just that. The government’s allocation of the land for BGU’s North Campus was in part a Realizing BGU’s Full Potential and Maximizing its Impact

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NORTH CAMPUS

Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Future Technologies Building 1

3

8

7

1

5

Drahi Innovation & Entrepreneurship Building 2

Helmsley Computer Science Building 4

2

4

6

Cultural Center 3

Civil and Environmental Engineering Building 5

Ernest Scheller, Jr. Gate of Innovation 6

Infrastructure Center 7

8 Student Village

the start of the 2021-22 academic year. One building has been designated as the U-Tel, which started welcoming guests at the end of 2022. While the North Campus will eventually be home to some 20-40 new buildings, over the next decade we will concentrate on the construction of the Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Future Technologies Building , the Drahi Innovation and Entrepreneurship Building , the Helmsley Computer Science Building , the Civil and Environmental Engineering Building , the Cultural and Conference Center , and the Infrastructure Center . A brief introduction to several of the buildings planned for this first phase of North Campus development is provided below. Since October 7, construction costs in Israel have skyrocketed, and the donor funding designated for named buildings now covers only a portion of their construction costs. While partial government funding has been allocated to the construction of some of

the buildings, it doesn’t cover the shortfall. Therefore, there is a need to enlist donor support to name the Civil and Environmental Engineering Building and the Infrastructure Center and utilize the many other naming opportunities in each building on the North Campus. In the academic buildings, these opportunities include teaching and research laboratories, offices, floors, lobbies, classrooms, seminar and conference rooms, and auditoriums. At the Student Village , the entire complex, as well as individual apartments, floors, dormitory buildings, and lobbies can be named. These myriad naming opportunities on the North Campus would appeal to donors with a gift capacity of $50,000 or more . The Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Future Technologies Building This building will house our most advanced quantum, robotics, and remote sensing laboratories, and these labs will explore and develop the technologies of the future. The labs’ researchers will find answers to technological problems that are yet unforeseen, as they experiment 6

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of underground tunnels used to centralize campus utilities. This facility is essential for the construction of new buildings, and as such, the Infrastructure Center is critical to the development of the North Campus. The Student Village The Student Village consists of 14 buildings – 13 dormitory buildings and the U-Tel. Each of the five-floor dormitory buildings contains 35-49 apartments, providing housing for a total of 1,000 students. Each building includes a mix of small and large studio apartments for singles, apartments for couples, as well as two- and three-bedroom apartments. Each unit is fully furnished with a smart TV, beds, closets, desks, a full kitchen, sitting area, and solar water heater. Other amenities include storage, bicycle, and laundry rooms, 24/7 security, parking, printers, on-site building management, and full maintenance service. Reporting Building construction takes place over a period of years, and during that time donors naming a building will receive annual updates on the building’s progress. Depending on the nature of the other entities supported, a report upon completion of the project or a video- or photo-based report will be provided. Dedication Ceremony Gifts to name buildings and other significant named entities will be recognized at a dedication ceremony held in the presence of the donor and senior administration.

with new ideas that will shape future technological solutions in many critical domains. The nature of the research performed in the building and the sensitivity of the required research equipment makes this building’s construction challenging. The Drahi Innovation and Entrepreneurship Building This building is dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship, representing BGU’s commitment to these areas. The building’s centerpiece will be a large, new hub for the Yazamut 360° Entrepreneurship Center; the new hub will enable the activities and impact of Yazamut 360° to grow exponentially. The building will also include a food court, auditorium, conference room, high-tech area, open workspaces, and classrooms. These classrooms will serve as the training ground for Israel’s future entrepreneurs and innovators, and the building’s many gathering spaces will be filled with BGU students, the leaders of tomorrow. This will be the first academic building inaugurated on the North Campus, with completion expected by the end of 2025. The Helmsley Computer Science Building This will be the largest building on the North Campus, serving over 60 faculty members and over 2,000 students and researchers. The new building will accommodate the growth of BGU’s departments involved in computer sciences, which is expected to accelerate given the construction of the IDF’s technology campus adjacent to the University. This building is thus central to the University’s strategy of forming connections with advanced intelligence and cyber units of the Israeli army (IDF). The Civil and Environmental Engineering Building The construction of this building will be instrumental specialized professionals Israel’s future development relies on. The building will be state-of-the-art in all respects, particularly its green, sustainable design and construction. The building’s design will incorporate three key principles: resource efficiency, environmental stewardship, and occupational health. One of the more prominent labs will be the specially designed Experimental Research Lab, which will accommodate the special needs of civil engineering research where full scale experimentation is often required. The Infrastructure Center The Infrastructure Center connects the North Campus to municipal utilities and is the heart of an extensive system to the growth of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and the training of the

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1.2 MARCUS FAMILY CAMPUS RENOVATIONS Ensuring BGU’s future by re-investing in existing resources

The Need The development of the Marcus Family Campus began with the construction of the Zalman Aranne Central Library in the early 1970s. Today, the Campus is fully built with 53 buildings, many of which were built decades ago and are beginning to show their age. Once considered state-of-the-art, these buildings have been retrofitted with the communication systems, servers, and cables required in the Internet age. While the lab equipment in the buildings has kept pace with the evolving technological advancements across many domains, the classrooms weren’t built to accommodate students with multiple devices using laptops and tablets during class. As a result, many buildings on the Marcus Family Campus require extensive renovation.

In addition, various departments will relocate to new facilities on the North Campus, vacating their existing spaces which were customized to meet specific needs. For example, the Department of Computer Science will relocate to the new Helmsley Computer Science Building on the North Campus, freeing up its space in the Alon Building for Hi-Tech, which will in turn require renovating to meet the specifications of the new occupants. BGU’s ongoing growth, coupled with the IDF’s relocation to the South, the expansion of Negev communities, and a rising student population, makes the construction of the North Campus essential. The two adjacent Beer-Sheva campuses will complement each other, and together they will meet the educational and research needs of the

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and professional development of our students, staff, researchers, and faculty members. This ranges from the landscaping throughout campus, which creates a pleasant environment providing spaces for students to relax, gather with friends, study, or take a break in between classes; to the labs in the Ruth Flinkman Marandy and Ben Marandy Multidisciplinary Research Laboratory Building, where cutting-edge research is being performed. Together, these resources and capital assets provide the foundation on which the education of our students and our advanced research rests. Their continued maintenance and renovation will ensure that they can continue to serve the BGU community for generations to come. Enlisting Support for Marcus Family Campus Renovations A wealth of naming opportunities are linked to the renovation projects performed on the Marcus Family Campus. While ensuring that existing named entities in the facilities are properly acknowledged in a suitable location at BGU, renovation projects create numerous new opportunities for naming. The buildings’ labs, classrooms, and specialized facilities, which will be upgraded during renovation, can be named, along with the equipment present in/purchased for the labs. With each gift, the donor contributes to the long-term growth and development of BGU and the Marcus Family Campus and ensures that the tools and infrastructure needed to support our students’ and researchers’ efforts are in place. The diversity of the projects – in terms of their scope and the domains they cover – ensures that there will be naming opportunities of interest for every potential donor. For example, the recent partial renovation of the Zalman Aranne Central Library resulted in the creation of numerous meeting and work spaces for our students. These well-lit and well-equipped rooms allow students to study or work on projects together, without disturbing other students seeking a quiet place to study at the library. Each of these rooms, which are already in high demand, can be named. Another recent renovation transformed Building 93B into the Department of Cognitive and Brain Sciences Building, offering essential new facilities for this expanding department and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition to which it belongs. Dr. Nir Fresco, a recently recruited faculty member in the Departments of Cognitive and Brain Sciences and Philosophy, is based in the building. The

University’s students and faculty members for decades to come. Around half of BGU’s capital resources in Beer Sheva will be located on the Marcus Family Campus, and it is essential that they are modernized and well equipped to serve the BGU community now and in the future. BGU’s Commitment to Re-Investing in Existing Resources Most buildings on the Marcus Family Campus are named, a testament to the generous donor support that made their construction possible in earlier years. These donors, like the donors of today, entrusted us with their contributions, knowing that they would be put to good use, year in and year out, helping us achieve our goals for research and teaching excellence. We deeply value every contribution, honoring the individuals whose gift established a legacy here. It is incumbent on the University to re-invest in the buildings established thanks to their patronage. BGU’s rise to its current stature and position of leadership was made possible by the unwavering support of these donors and the visionary generosity of the Marcus family, whose belief in the University’s capacity for greatness continues to inspire us. The Marcus Endowment Fund supports the University’s continued growth, and we are committed to ensuring that the family’s legacy is upheld each and every day on the beautiful and thriving campus named for them. Our re-investment in the buildings and facilities on the Marcus Family Campus reflects that commitment. In addition, BGU is educating Israel’s future workforce and leaders. Their capacity to lead Israel into the future depends on access to cutting-edge facilities with state of-the-art labs, equipment, and classrooms. For example, one-third of Israel’s engineers are BGU graduates. While some of our engineering degree programs will relocate to the North Campus, the vast majority will remain on the Marcus Family Campus. The proper training and education of students enrolled in those departments, and many others, will rely on up-to-date facilities on the Marcus Family Campus. In this way, the progress of both Israel and BGU depends on continued re-investment in the campus. Realizing the Potential of Existing Resources Over the Long-Term Each facility and piece of equipment on the Marcus Family Campus contributes to the teaching and research performed on campus and to the personal

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MARCUS FAMILY CAMPUS RENOVATIONS

work performed in his Epistemology and Cognition Lab explores the foundations of cognitive neuroscience, the philosophy of computation and information, and the philosophy of mind. One branch of his research focuses on understanding – from informational and computational perspectives – how information processing contributes to our cognitive life, while other research combines philosophical and behavioral methods to study the relation between automaticity, habit formation, and skill acquisition in humans. His lab, which is also available for naming, is one example of the many new naming opportunities that will emerge with re-investment in existing resources on the Marcus Family Campus. Reporting Depending on the scope of the renovation project supported, annual updates regarding the project’s progress will be provided. After its completion, donors will receive annual updates regarding the activities and research performed in the named entities. Dedication Ceremony Named gifts to support the renovation of significant entities will be recognized at a dedication ceremony held in the presence of the donor and senior administration.

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1.3 SDE BOKER AND EILAT CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT Focus on areas with the greatest impact

The Need BGU boasts three beautiful campuses in Beer-Sheva, Sde Boker, and Eilat, and the University’s growth in the coming years depends on the development of all three campuses, along with the new North Campus. In Beer-Sheva, we are developing the North Campus to accommodate the expected growth in the student population, increasing numbers of faculty members and researchers, and a flourishing culture of collaboration, entrepreneurship, and innovation. At the more remote campuses in Sde Boker and Eilat, future expansion relies almost solely on increasing the number of dormitories to allow growth in the student population. Currently, the limited number of dormitories on each campus is stifling their growth. Without the construction of new dormitories, the size of the student population in these locations will effectively be capped. Given the distinct

educational role that each campus plays, this will have grave consequences. The Sde Boker Campus is home to two outstanding BGU institutions: the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research (BIDR) and the Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism (BGRI). Each has a unique area of focus and attracts a large number of international students, along with Israelis. The BGRI is home to the Woodman-Scheller Israel Studies International MA Program, a scholarly community of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and faculty members, and the Azrieli Center for Israel Studies, which, since its establishment in 2016 has become the country’s leading Israel Studies center. The international contingent at the BGRI also includes students enrolled

CAPITAL FUNDING PROJECTS

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SDE BOKER AND EILAT CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT

in courses led by BGU researchers at India’s Jindal Global University and Chinese students residing in Israel enrolled in seminars offered by the center. With each course, seminar, and encounter, our international students’ perspectives of Israel are enhanced, broadened, and more nuanced. These enlightened perspectives are particularly valuable today, given the extent of the antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment worldwide. This makes the Israel Studies discipline more important than ever before. Researchers at the BIDR address diverse aspects of sustainable development, which is one of the world’s greatest challenges. Around 400 million people live in deserts, and more than 2.2 billion people live in non desert drylands. Sustainable development in these areas ultimately depends on the resourcefulness, creativity, and technical capacity of local communities. International students at the BIDR develop these capabilities and much needed expertise by performing research on water scarcity, food security, clean energy, ecosystem dynamics, and more. Upon completing their degrees, these students return to their home countries well equipped to tackle local sustainability challenges. Unfortunately, the University’s ability to expand existing programs at the BIDR and the BGRI and increase the number of students is limited by the number of dormitories. This in turn limits the number of informal Israel ambassadors and Israel Studies experts emerging from BGRI programs and the number of experts possessing the expertise to deal with the sustainability challenges seen around the world emerging from the BIDR. The development of the Sde Boker Campus will therefore focus on the construction of two new dormitory buildings. The Eilat Campus addresses a number of educational needs, including (1) the need for an institution of higher learning that can serve and strengthen the local community in Israel’s most remote region (with, for example, social work, psychology, and health management programs); (2) the need for educational programs that complement the region’s unique character (including programs in marine biology, sea technology, and hotel and tourism management); (3) the need for a pre-academic preparatory program in the periphery aimed at increasing accessibility to higher education; and (4) the need for a first-year engineering program for students who don’t quite meet the entrance requirements for undergraduate engineering programs; those who successfully complete their first year in Eilat

can continue their studies in Beer-Sheva, providing a pathway to an engineering career for students who might not otherwise have had this opportunity. Hundreds of students are enrolled in BGU’s degree programs in Eilat; however, the existing dormitory can only accommodate around 70 first-year students. The scope of the Eilat Campus is poised to widen with the long hoped for establishment of a Center for Sea Technology at BGU. The Israeli government has recognized this as a unique opportunity: By driving the growth of a new high-tech sector strategically located on the Red Sea, it aims to turn the startup nation into the world’s frontrunner in sustainable ocean technologies. BGU plans to meet this challenge by establishing the country’s first academic center for scientific research and training in sea technology. The advancement of sea-tech has the potential to transform Eilat, serving as a much-needed economic driver fostering the city’s development. The development of the Eilat Campus will therefore focus on the high impact sea-tech domain, as well as the construction of new dormitory buildings. In both Sde Boker and Eilat, the availability of other student housing is limited. Sde Boker is a small community, consisting mainly of single-family homes occupied by the town’s permanent residents. These homes are in high demand given the limited construction in the area and the high quality of community life there. In Eilat, rental apartments are expensive, placing a financial burden on students. BGU’s Commitment to the Growth of the Sde Boker and Eilat Campuses BGU’s campuses in Sde Boker and Eilat have an important role in the University’s educational and research offerings. The Sde Boker Campus serves as a living laboratory for our students and researchers at the BIDR, providing a wealth of research opportunities unique to the area. The Cyndi and Max Mintzberg Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel & Zionism Building and the Ben-Gurion Archives is effectively a state-of-the-art and one-of-a-kind laboratory for the study of Israel and Zionism. In Eilat, the tourism industry provides practical applications and understanding of the field to our students, while the sea provides a vibrant and accessible marine laboratory with unique coral resources. BGU is committed to developing the two campuses by focusing on projects that will provide the greatest return on investment: new dormitories and sea tech. New

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Reporting Dormitory construction will take place over a period of years, and during that time the donor will receive annual updates on the building’s progress. Depending on the nature of the other entities supported, a report or a video- or photo-based report will be provided upon completion of the project. Dedication Ceremony Gifts to name buildings and other significant named entities will be recognized at a dedication ceremony held in the presence of the donor and senior administration.

dormitories enable growth of the student population, allowing the number of students studying on each campus to continue to grow. The proposed Center for Sea Technology leverages BGU’s expertise in marine biology, sustainability, and technology, serving as a focal point for students and researchers interested in this emerging field and creating a growing community of sea tech students and scholars at the Eilat Campus. Moreover, it will contribute to the growth of a new industry that will serve as a catalyst for the advancement of the campus, the University, and the region. Realizing the Potential of the Eilat and Sde Boker Campuses BGU is striving to become Israel’s leading university in terms of research, teaching, and contribution to society and one of the world’s top research institutions. The research and teaching performed on the Sde Boker and Eilat Campuses will play an important role in the University’s ability to achieve these goals. Both research and teaching are student-focused, as educational programs are targeted at students and research is driven by students. Therefore, campus development aimed at enabling the growth of the student population on the Sde Boker and Eilat campuses is vital to fulfilling BGU’s ambitions, as well as to realizing the potential of each campus. Enlisting Support for Sde Boker and Eilat Campus Development Campus development on the two campuses will focus largely on the construction of new dormitories. Two new dormitories each are planned for both the Sde Boker Campus and the Eilat Campus. With funding for one new dormitory in Eilat already committed, we still have one new dormitory available for naming there, along with two new dormitories available for naming in Sde Boker. These are high-profile and high-impact projects, enhancing the educational experience and personal and professional development of BGU students for generations to come. A new dormitory building in Sde Boker or Eilat can be named with a donation of $5,000,000. Each dormitory provides many other naming opportunities, as individual apartments and floors can be named, along with the lobbies and common areas.

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1.3 LABS, CLASSROOMS, AND EQUIPMENT The essential infrastructure that drives research and higher education

The Need BGU’s ability to implement its strategic plan and achieve its vision depends on its strength as a talent magnet. By attracting top faculty members, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, the University aims to secure its place among the world’s leading research institutions. This foundation also supports its goal of becoming Israel’s premier university in research, teaching, and societal contribution, as well as taking a leadership role in revitalizing the Negev. A university that attracts the best and the brightest shines above the rest. It prioritizes research excellence, and the value it places on this is reflected across the university, in its strategic initiatives and budgetary decisions, as well as in its publications. It has cutting edge research facilities, state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment, and extensive research support services.

It has the human resources required to both support new academics and staff their labs. It has a solid infrastructure supporting research and teaching, as well as sufficient well-equipped classrooms, up-to-date and comprehensive libraries, study halls, teaching labs, and facilities for research students. A talent magnet also offers each young academic the facilities and tools needed to advance in his or her chosen field. Every new recruit needs to be confident that they can build their career at BGU and that the University believes in them and will invest in them. New researchers need to know that upon arriving at BGU, they can hit the ground running and pursue their research. Their professional advancement depends on it. This means meeting the needs of each researcher by providing specialized and fully equipped labs to those

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researchers whose work requires a lab and diverse specialized resources to other researchers. Each new faculty member must trust that in partnering with BGU, both their future and the future of the University is bright. An institution that thoughtfully invests in its facilities and infrastructure, as well as its human resources, is developing, advancing, and building for the future. Faculty members have a dual role, pursuing research and teaching. Educating Israel’s future leaders and workforce demands skilled educators capable of providing our students with the knowledge and skills needed for their chosen fields. Currently, educational paradigms are constantly evolving, the student population is diverse, and research findings and technological advancements necessitate frequent curriculum changes. The days of relying solely on frontal lectures and written exams are gone. Today’s students are technologically savvy and device-oriented; they are eager to learn and equally eager to put what they learn into practice; and reading is just one of the many ways in which they take in the myriad information they are exposed to each day. Educating students depends on engaging students. Becoming a magnet for talent, and the subsequent inspire, and guide BGU students – requires significant investment in classroom enhancement and teaching technologies, as well as in laboratories and scientific equipment. BGU’s Commitment to Investing in Research and Teaching Infrastructure and Technologies As one of Israel’s nine public universities, BGU’s primary tasks are teaching and research. Our faculty members play a large role in performing these tasks, and the University is committed to ensuring that they have access to the tools required to execute them. The work of all faculty members, but particularly of new recruits, relies on the presence of academic and scientific infrastructure, often in the form of a research lab, and the availability of the relevant equipment. While the nature of each lab and the specific equipment needed varies, fundamentally researchers need a dedicated space that is conducive to conducting their research and the equipment needed to perform that work at the highest level. This is a dynamic process, since the University is required to update and purchase retention of outstanding faculty members and researchers – those who will engage, educate,

new, more advanced equipment on a regular basis as new technologies and more powerful and specialized equipment continue to emerge. In addition to the equipment and instrumentation in individual research labs, there is often a need to invest in major pieces of equipment that facilitate the work of multiple researchers across disciplines. Such equipment increases BGU’s overall research capacity and becomes an integral component in the University’s scientific infrastructure. Like classrooms, labs are critical components in teaching, and there is a need to construct and equip state-of-the-art teaching labs and classrooms. Students’ ability to gain the necessary knowledge and expertise needed to succeed in their chosen fields depends on this. But the need doesn’t end there. Educating the next generation of professionals and problem-solvers requires exceptional educators and facilities. New teaching technologies and paradigms have the potential to transform education and the educational experience, and BGU is eager to employ them. The pandemic demonstrated the need for ingenuity and flexibility in teaching and familiarity with digital tools in the classroom and modes of education; and the educational landscape continues to evolve. BGU is committed to adopting new approaches, technologies, and paradigms as an institution and ensuring their integration into the curriculum and adoption by our faculty members. Doing so will enable the University to fulfill its teaching responsibilities, just as the establishment and equipping of labs will enable it to fulfill its research responsibilities. Laboratories, Equipment, and Professional Development: Realizing the Full Potential of Our Students and Faculty Members BGU’s students and faculty members are its greatest human resources. Their roles are deeply connected, with faculty members being the primary source of the education our students receive at the University and students driving the research performed in faculty members’ labs. Investment in classroom enhancement and teaching technologies and professional development/training will promote excellence in teaching and the adoption of innovative teaching, learning, and assessment processes at BGU. New teaching methods and diverse pedagogical approaches will also help adapt teaching processes to

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LABS, CLASSROOMS, AND EQUIPMENT

the evolving reality and prominence of digital media in students’ lives. Improvements like these will enhance faculty members’ pedagogical skills and ensure that our students benefit maximally from their educational experience. This, in turn, will help them fulfill their personal and professional potential. Investment in laboratories and equipment is critical to nurturing a university-wide culture of research excellence, significantly boosting BGU’s overall research capacity. It is also vital for individual researchers, and each new lab or piece of equipment contributes to their ability to pursue their research without technological obstacles or limitations, achieve their goals, advance professionally, and fulfill their potential. Enlisting Support for Laboratories and Equipment The wide range of funding opportunities associated with laboratories and equipment will appeal to potential donors interested in supporting research and teaching excellence at BGU. Each new recruit has unique needs in terms of a laboratory and equipment, and in many cases, their recruitment hinges on BGU’s ability to meet these needs. Each lab represents a naming opportunity; the size of the donation required depends on the scope and size of the lab and ranges from $1,000,000-$5,000,000. Large pieces of equipment whose purchase a donor enables can also be named. The need for funding is ongoing, as state-of-the-art research relies on keeping pace with equipment upgrades and new technologies. The cost of equipment varies, ranging from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars.

BGU actively promotes innovation in teaching, with a wide range of initiatives including professional development opportunities, workshops, personalized pedagogical mentoring, training (enabling faculty members to adapt to changes in teaching methodologies, utilize digital tools for active learning, and adopt new instructional technologies), prizes and awards, programs that help students learn, and other activities. Donors can provide support for these initiatives for a single year or longer. Reporting Reporting will vary, depending on the project supported. For example, an annual report on activities and programs receiving donor support will be provided for the funding period. In the case of labs established or supported with donor funding, the donor will receive an annual report on their activities and accomplishments. Donors supporting the purchase of equipment will receive a one-time report on how the equipment is advancing research at BGU. Dedication Ceremony A gift to name a lab or significant piece of equipment will be recognized at a dedication ceremony held in the presence of the donor and senior administration.

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CAPITAL FUNDING PROJECTS

LABS, CLASSROOMS, AND EQUIPMENT

1.5 CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION An opportunity to promote our core values

The Need In the Negev’s vast desert landscape, BGU is an educational and cultural oasis, home to a vast number of educational, scientific, and cultural resources largely located in impressive buildings on our three main campuses in Beer-Sheva, Sde Boker, and Eilat. But neither the resources nor the buildings stand in isolation. They serve as landmarks in a rich landscape that also encompasses the many pathways, gardens, open areas, plazas, artwork, seating and recreation areas, and donor recognition sites that shape our campuses. These spaces draw us in and bring us together as a community, providing a place for a quiet conversation, coffee break, or get-together with classmates; a means of getting some fresh air and exercise; and a pathway to our next destination, be it a classroom, laboratory, or faculty member’s office.

BGU strives to be a welcoming and inviting place that promotes respect for education, science, the environment, art, community service and philanthropy, and diverse cultures and people. In our physical environment, the aims of projecting excellence, professionalism, stability, and stewardship of our surroundings are balanced with the need to create a warm, open, and comfortable setting that inspires creativity, discourse, good humor, and tolerance. All of this is reflected in our campus landscape and the spaces that connect our remarkable buildings and the people that study and work in them. Because a bench isn’t simply a place to sit – it also provides a means of bringing people together, fostering conversation, and sharing space – there will always be a need to invest in projects that make our campuses more welcoming and beautiful.

CAPITAL FUNDING PROJECTS

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CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION

BGU’s Commitment to Campus Beautification Each element of our campus enhancement efforts will help us realize the full value of our real estate in Beer Sheva, Sde Boker, and Eilat. Each project, large or small, offers the opportunity to promote and support our core values as an institution. Given this potential, the University is committed to beautifying our campuses. Campus Beautification: Realizing the Full Value of BGU’s Capital Assets In recent years, we have seen the effects of our investment in campus beautification. For example, since the pandemic, various types of outdoor seating have been installed across the Marcus Family Campus, including swings, benches, tables and chairs, and beanbags. In just a short time, the presence of these new seating areas has changed the feel of the campus, encouraging students of all backgrounds to gather and hang out in our public spaces – sharing these spaces, claiming these spaces, and experiencing a sense of belonging in them. Further, just as the value of a jewel is enhanced by its setting, our buildings, which are our greatest capital assets, are enhanced by being surrounded by tasteful and desert-friendly landscaping, increasing pride among the donors supporting the buildings’ construction and the BGU community benefitting from the buildings. Enlisting Support for Campus Beautification Campus beautification includes diverse projects with a wide range of price points. It includes gardens and landscaping, seating areas, walkways, roads and parking areas, lighting, artwork, plazas, recreation areas, and racks for scooters and bikes. New and existing sites are available for naming on all our campuses, providing donors with the opportunity to support a new project or a renewal project, or name an existing site that needs limited or no renewal. Large-scale projects can be implemented with the support of a single donor or a group of donors.

Campus beautification projects are desirable for naming and donor recognition. Located in public spaces, they receive a lot of passing traffic, which is appealing to donors for whom recognition is a priority. Donors can visit the sites and get a tangible sense of their value. This can also be conveyed in a video or photo. Given the wide range of projects and price points, there is a campus beautification project for each potential donor. Reporting Reporting will vary, depending on the scale of the project or naming opportunity, with annual progress reports for large-scale projects taking place over a longer period. Videos and photos will be the primary means of reporting on campus beautification projects.

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CAPITAL FUNDING PROJECTS

CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION

2. STUDENT ACCESS AND SUPPORT

2.1 UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS Increasing access to higher education The Need Israel’s greatest resources are its human resources – the people who drive the country’s advancement, address the needs of its diverse population, and develop the technologies and solutions needed to protect the country from harm and sustain life in its arid climate. The vital significance of our human resources becomes most apparent during times of war or national crisis. Israeli universities and colleges educate and train the country’s future engineers, teachers, healthcare professionals, social workers, academics, and leaders

in every field, their graduates fill the ranks of Israel’s thriving industries, companies, and organizations. The graduates of these institutions also fuel the startups Israel is so well known for – in fact, Israel’s reputation as the startup nation is based on their innovation and passion. Israel’s institutions of higher learning also shape its citizenry, creating the leaders of tomorrow. While an educated workforce is critical to Israel’s ability to sustain itself, a surprisingly large percentage of Israeli adults lack higher education, and in many

STUDENT ACCESS AND SUPPORT

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UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS