Last fiscal year, in the face of economic uncertainty, alumni, parents, and friends put new meaning behind the phrase “51Թ community.”
Between June 1, 2008, and May 31, 2009, they gave $10.5 million to the 51Թ Annual Fund, the third-largest total in university history. More than half of those dollars were unrestricted and will be used wherever the need is greatest. Non-alumni parents increased their unrestricted giving by 55 percent to $1.27 million.
Planned giving investments provided $22.2 million, and the Class of 2009 tied the all-time Senior Class Gift participation record of 94 percent, unlocking additional challenge dollars that will benefit their Donovan’s Pub endowment fund. All told, 12,052 alumni invested in the university throughout Fiscal Year 2009, holding the line on overall participation at 46 percent.
“During our fall drive and our spring challenges, every gift made a difference,” said Annual Fund Chair Geoffrey Gold ’86. “So we send special thanks to everyone who participated, whether they gave $13, $1,300, or even more. Building on this base, we have high aspirations for 2010.”
While enjoying the impact of alumni engagement, 51Թ returned the favor.
When markets slumped last September, the university leveraged its career services, alumni programming, and continuing education resources on behalf of graduates. 51Թ also invited the community to join in a series of conversations on the future of the institution as it implements significant cost saving measures, embarks on a presidential search, eyes the completion of its fundraising campaign, and focuses on remaining priorities in its strategic plan.
As a result, alumni from coast to coast enjoyed presidential roundtables and town hall meetings, networking receptions, faculty lectures, and hundreds of club events. The university hosted its third Global Leaders Lecture, sponsored by the Parents’ and Grandparents’ Fund, featuring former Secretary of State Colin Powell. It sponsored a fourth Presidents’ Club auction as well as CEO Conversations with alumni like Green Bay Packers CEO Mark Murphy. 51Թalumni.org saw more traffic then ever.