Meet Purdue United Way Champion Jim Bullard
As 2025 Purdue United Way campaign champion, Jim Bullard, the Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean of the Mitch Daniels School of Business, brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to local impact. Having worked with United Way organizations nationally and internationally, he shares his insights on the power of giving local, the importance of community partnership, and what inspires him both personally and professionally.
Purdue colleagues can join Dean Bullard in contributing to the Purdue United Way campaign at uwlafayette.org/purdue-united-way.
Champion Jim Bullard on the United Way
Can you share about your national and international involvement with United Way organizations?
I served the St. Louis chapter – one of the strongest United Way organizations in the country – and then was asked to sit on and eventually chair the USA United Way board of directors. USA United Way serves more than a thousand local United Way organizations across the country. As Chair of the USA United Way Board, I also served on the United Way Worldwide board representing the United States contingent. I got to know many people involved in the United Way, all across the country and, to some extent, across the world. We worked on a lot of new strategies for United Way and in particular, on connecting donors with the impact of United Way.
What is the “why” behind Purdue’s United Way partnership, from your lens?
Purdue University wants to be a great neighbor and do the very best we can for the community. The United Way is a great way to do that. The United Way of Greater Lafayette campaign is all about local giving — helping the people we live and work alongside every day. I think that’s really the biggest appeal for Purdue.
You joined our community two years ago now and have already invested in the United Way here. Can you share why?
We love the United Way and we support the campaigns where we live. I’m sure we’ll continue to be involved for many years to come.
What do you want your Purdue colleagues to know about being a part of this campaign?
I think the most important thing to realize about United Way is that you’re giving locally and you’re having an impact locally.
If you take some time to look at the many organizations that are impacted and then the actual people that are impacted, you’ll see the campaign is really helping our friends and neighbors here. I think that’s an important distinction versus other causes you could support, where the impact may be farther away from our own communities.
You continue to support the United Way year after year. What’s the philosophy behind your continued commitment?
I think it’s the impact, the quality of the organization, and I like that it brings so many people, almost all volunteers, together to make an impact. To some extent they get to know each other, and that can spur other good things to happen — that’s a real strength of the United Way.
While many see it as a strength, some thoughtful donors worry that the collective funding model might be too much of an “easy button” – that perhaps they’re not being a careful or targeted enough with their contributions. What do you think?
While there’s nothing stopping a donor from designating to a specific organization, I think for most people it’s extremely time consuming to try to review, say, 50 potential organizations they could support and then to make a careful decision. The United Way of Greater Lafayette is calibrating much of that on your behalf and evaluating impact, and that simplifies the process enormously. The local aspect as well is a big component.
I think United Way provides a simple, efficient method of giving locally in a way you can be sure is going to be effective and have a big impact.
Get to Know the Champion
Your most-used phrase or catchphrase at work:
Our catchphrase at the Daniels School of Business is “the intersection of technology and business.” We say that every day.
A hobby or interest of yours:
I like to ride my bicycle and enjoy the trails around the Lafayette and West Lafayette area.
Your favorite local restaurant or hidden gem in town:
I like the new Boilerhouse Prime. It’s a great new addition to the other great restaurants we have. The new clubhouse where it’s located was funded by Sam Allen, who also funded my deanship — a Purdue grad and the former CEO of John Deere. It has a lot of sentimental value to Sam – for his family and for what he wanted to do for Purdue.
About Purdue United Way
The Purdue United Way campaign is dedicated to raising funds and supporting initiatives that address critical needs in the Greater Lafayette area. Through community-driven efforts and strategic partnerships, we strive to create lasting, positive change in our community.
Purdue employees can contribute at uwlafayette.org/purdue-united-way/.