Butler Day of Giving

Founded by a Lilly Endowment Grant in 2003, the newly renamed Compass Center at Butler University has been a place on campus for students to discover a life of purpose, meaning, and contribution by inviting students into the community, interfaith engagement, vocational reflection, and spaces for wellness. 

Help Us Continue to Meet the Moment

As we navigate the unique challenges of our world, we need to remain creative, innovative, and dynamic in the ways we offer opportunities for students to encounter interfaith engagement and vocational reflection.   

Your gifts to the Compass Center Gift Fund can help us do the following:

Interfaith Engagement

Through funds for interfaith collaboration programs, students will continue to have the opportunity to learn about differing spiritual faiths and traditions through meaningful events and conversations. With events such as the New View Film Series, the Religion Seminar Series, and the Interfaith Council, students and the Indianapolis community continue to explore interfaith collaborations, service, and dialogue.

DEI Initiatives

The Compass Center houses over a dozen different student communities that offer diverse programming events and opportunities for education. Further, the Compass Center partners closely with the Efroymson Diversity Center to deliver our Deliberative Dialogues series, where students deeply consider their values and decisions related to complex issues of the day, most recently including free speech, policing reform, and participation in a democratic society.

Internships

Through the Ccompass Center Internship Program, students have had the opportunity to engage with the Indianapolis community while gaining real work experience. Recent Compass Center internship sites include the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, Center for Interfaith Cooperation, Jewish Community Center, Just Peace Internship at First Congregational Church, Faith in Indiana, and others. Each cohort of interns is led through vocational discussions throughout their internship experience, and student reflections are shared at the end of their experiences working within the community.

Compass Center Scholars Programming

With funds for the Scholars Program, Compass Center Scholars will have more opportunities to engage in reflective conversations around topics they are interested in. The Scholars Program will also be able to host more events and projects geared for Scholars.  

Student Testimonials

“From my experiences with being a Compass Center scholar and an intern, I’ve grown in empathy and broken down cultural barriers.” – Jenna Burd ‘26

“The Compass Center is very collaborative — staff members constantly in conversation working on projects and initiatives they are passionate about. People from all different backgrounds who identify with all different groups come together to serve one Butler community.” – Alison Miccolis ‘24

“I have a newfound appreciation for the people that take the time out of their day to advocate for the Muslim Community and encourage civic engagement amongst the community. The [internship] experience has been very humbling to me and allowed me to make connections and friendships outside of my local Islamic community.” – Yossra Daiya ’24 

“Before beginning my internship with the Compass Center, I wasn’t familiar with all the resources and interfaith opportunities offered at Butler. I was familiar with other religions and backgrounds but attending events that provided a space for learning allowed for conversations and moments of reflection. It was an invitation to better myself and my perspective on others, all while gaining skills I’ll be able to use in the workforce.” – Janet Lovera ’23