Brown Annual Fund Donors "Rally for Record"
At a "Boldly Brown" Campaign event held in New York City in December 2006, Campaign Co-Chair Matt Mallow '64 P'02 announced the $1.5 million “Rally for the Record” challenge. Members of the Brown Corporation have issued this challenge in honor of Chancellor Steve Robert ’62 P’91 and in recognition of the Brown Annual Fund’s record-setting participation goal for fiscal year 2007.
The “Rally for the Record” challenge aims to motivate alumni, parents, students, and friends to show their support of Brown in greater numbers than ever before. The challenge will be met when 34,000 individual donors step forward and make a gift at any level to the 2006-2007 Brown Annual Fund. This bold participation goal marks a 5-percent increase over 2005-2006 results – and a new all-time record.
In late January, the Brown Annual Fund was halfway to its donor goal and 40% of the way toward its dollar goal. The Annual Fund has grown significantly over the past six years, from 19,442 donors giving $15 million in fiscal year 2001 to 32,295 donors giving $30.7 million in fiscal year 2006. “Brown’s incredible growth in recent years is directly related to the growth of its community of supporters,” says Chair Tom Berry '69 P'92 P'96. “They are at the heart of the University’s successes.”
Gifts and pledge payments must be made by June 30, 2007 to count toward the challenge goal.
Growth in Annual Fund Supporters: Fiscal Years 2001-2006
Graduates of the Last Decade Go for the GOLD Challenge
Graduates of the Last Decade (also known as “GOLD” alumni) and the Class of 2007 have an opportunity to triple the impact of their gifts to Brown this spring by taking part in the 2007 GOLD Participation Challenge.
President Simmons was approached by an anonymous couple who asked how they could best help her achieve the University’s goals this year. The President suggested that they provide matching funds to encourage Brown’s most recent graduates to come together once again in support of the Brown Annual Fund. Out of this generous offer, the 2007 GOLD Participation Challenge was born.
Under the terms of the GOLD Challenge, Graduates of the Last Decade will have their gifts matched 2:1 when they contribute between January 1 and April 30, 2007. The Class of 2007 can also take advantage of this challenge by contributing to their Senior Class Gift anytime before graduation. “The GOLD Challenge provides an incredible opportunity for seniors to make a significant contribution to the Annual Fund no matter the size of their gift,” says Senior Gift Committee Co-Chair Jessica Kondrick ’07. “The 2:1 match is a powerful incentive for us to be as generous as possible. We're determined to put the Class of 2007 in the record books with a 70% participation rate!”
$500,000 - GOLD Challenge (Graduates of the Last Decade (1997-2006) and the Class of 2007 are eligible)
2:1 match for undergraduate and graduate alumni gifts received by 4/30
2:1 match for all senior class gifts received by Commencement
1:1 match through 6/30 or until the funds are exhausted for both groups
Students Give Thanks to Donors
On December 2, 2006, Brown’s Student Campaign Committee took to the phones to offer Annual Fund donors a simple – and personal – thank-you. Even as papers were due and final exams were looming, eighteen students spent their Saturday taking part in a Thank-a-Thon. Organizers Monica Althoff ’09 and Danielle Peretore ’09, along with their fellow Campaign Committee volunteers, called 1,267 alumni, parents, and friends to say “thank you” for their gifts to the Annual Fund and to “Boldly Brown.”
“The Student Campaign Committee plays an important role in the Campaign for Academic Enrichment. Its main goals are to keep students informed and involved with the Campaign,” said Johanna Corcoran, Development’s Assistant Director for Student Programs. “This Thank-a-Thon was one way to do that. It was a great way for students to get to know some of the donors making their Brown experiences possible and for donors to hear directly from the people benefiting from their generosity.”
During the four-and-a-half hour Thank-a-Thon, students spoke with 419 recent donors. Many of the calls blossomed into long conversations about Brown, as callers talked to donors about the improvements that have already occurred as a result of their support of the Plan for Academic Enrichment. Alumni enjoyed the chance to speak one-on-one with a current Brown student.
“Feedback from everyone involved was very positive,” Corcoran said. “One of our donors was so thrilled to receive a call from a Brown student that she said it made her day!”
Callers also enjoyed meeting with Brown Corporation Member Joan Sorensen ’72 P’06 ’06, a member of the Brown Annual Fund Leadership Council and one of the Regional Campaign Vice-Chairs of the Rhode Island Boldly Brown Campaign. An alumna and parent of twins who are also Brown alumni, she spoke about how the Campaign marks an exciting time for Brown and underscored the value of student involvement in the Campaign’s success.
“The Student Campaign Committee plans to hold at least two Thank-a-Thons a year from now on,” said Rebecca Zuck, Program Assistant (the first student Thank-a-Thon took place in May 2006). “Talking with current students is a great way for Campaign donors to hear firsthand how their gifts are making a real difference.”
Neil Donavan ’51 and Jon Rozoff ’85 Awarded H. Anthony Ittleson ’60 Cup
They graduated from Brown during very different eras: the early 1950’s and the mid-1980’s. But while Neil Donavan ’51 and Jon Rozoff ’85 may not have been classmates, they share a common commitment to Brown University through enthusiastic leadership and support of the Annual Fund.
Neil Donavan’s decades-long dedication to Brown includes his current roles as vice-chair of the Boldly Brown Campaign for Academic Enrichment in Southern California, and a member of the Brown Annual Fund Leadership Council. He has been at the helm of each of his class’ last three Reunions. He co-chaired his 45th Reunion Gift Committee in 1996 and chaired his 50th and 55th Reunions, steering the Class of 1951 through two record-breaking Reunions that raised the bar for all future classes. Neil extended his generous support of Brown in 1990 with the creation of the Donavan Family Scholarship.
In addition to his fundraising efforts, Neil has enjoyed serving as a Brown Alumni Schools Committee (BASC) volunteer for more than 25 years, interviewing prospective Brown students.
Maintaining a goal-oriented approach to annual giving that emphasizes the establishment of new benchmarks is a formidable challenge, but Neil makes it appear effortless, through a hearty dose of energy, creative spirit, and good humor. You may have seen his trademark signs imploring graduates and their loved ones to “Think Critically” and “Never Miss an Annual Fund” as you marched down College Hill on Commencement Day.
Very few class leaders can attest to breaking four fundraising records in a single Reunion year, but Jon Rozoff accomplished this feat in 2005. Jon co-chaired his 20th Reunion Gift Committee and in the process, the Class of 1985 became the first 20th Reunion class to raise over $1 million for the Brown Annual Fund, while also setting a new record for its own participation at 48%. Additionally, Jon helped set a new record for the number of leadership gifts given by 20th Reunion alumni and raised his class’ comprehensive giving record to more than $3.7 million.
Jon understands the need to maintain philanthropic momentum and class support in between Reunion years. He has developed a strategic model for a five-year Reunion cycle that combines fundraising, events, activities and volunteer management – a plan that has been adopted by other classes approaching the 25th Reunion. Jon’s efforts are not limited to the Class of 1985. He also mentors younger class leaders, most recently working with the Class of 1997 helping them gear up for their 10th Reunion. A passionate volunteer, Jon is also a member of the New York committee of the Boldly Brown campaign, and has been a BASC interviewer for more than 20 years.
“Simply being mentioned in the same sentence as Tony (Ittleson) and Neil (Donavan) feels like an accomplishment,” says Jon, who is also a member of the Brown Annual Fund Leadership Council. “Tony's leadership and commitment and Neil's enthusiasm inspire me. I hope that in the coming years I can prove deserving of such recognition.”
Brown congratulates Jon and Neil – two steadfast friends and invaluable supporters – as worthy recipients of this year’s Ittleson Cup Award.
| H. Anthony Ittleson ’60 Award Past Winners | |
| 2005 | Joan Wernig Sorensen ’72 P’06 ’06 |
| 2004 | Wendy E. Dietze ’79 Richard A. Friedman ’79 P’08 Ruthanne Schwartz Fuller ’79 |
| 2003 | Richard C. Dresdale ’78 Habib Y. Gorgi ’78 Samuel M. Mencoff ’78 |
| 2002 | Rosalind and Roy Neff P’02 ’05 Brooke and Daniel Neidich P’05 ’07 ’10 |
| 2001 | Nancy R. Kail ’84 James D. Kallman ’84 |
| 2000 | Stephen R. Ehrlich ’55 P’85 |
| 1999 | Stephen A. Goldberger ’64 P’99 Lawrence A. Rand ’64 |
| 1998 | Bernard and Rae Cherry P’97 ’01 |
| 1997 | Chelsey Carrier Remington ’61 |
| 1996 | Timothy C. Forbes ’76 |
| 1995 | H. Cushman Anthony ’26 Alexandra E. Kairis ’95 |
| 1994 | Jerome C. Vascellaro ’74 |
| 1993 | Daniel M. Cain ’68 Richard S. Landau ’68 |
| 1992 | Joseph L. Dowling, Jr. ’47 |
| 1991 | Patricia S. Huntington P’91 David F. Remington ’61 |
| 1990 | John G. Poole ’65 |
Student Raises $100,000 for Academic Enrichment
In an achievement that made Student Calling Program history, Neil Hamel ’07 single-handedly surpassed the $100,000 mark in dollars raised. “Personally, this was a huge accomplishment for me,” Neil said. “I have benefited directly from financial aid at Brown, so to reach this milestone, and at the same time really impact the university, makes me feel great!”
Neil is one of 70 students that made up the dedicated team of student callers, managers, and support staff who raised a total of $1.8 million for Brown in 2005-2006, $1.7 million of which was for the Brown Annual Fund. Over the course of the academic year, the students spoke with nearly 28,000 members of the Brown community; over half of these conversations ended with the individual making a gift.
A notable trend is the rise in the number of people choosing to make their gift to Brown via credit card. “More and more people are discovering how quick and convenient it is to make a donation to Brown with their credit card,” said Rebecca Zuck, Program Assistant. “Our student callers walk donors through the process – all it takes is two minutes – and then the gift can be put to work at Brown almost immediately.”
The students will begin making calls on behalf of the 2006-2007 Brown Annual Fund on September 17.
To learn more about the Student Calling Program, click here.
New Records: Brown Annual Fund Raises $30.7 million from 32,295 Donors
The Brown community contributed an astounding $30,746,888 to the 2005-2006 Brown Annual Fund, exceeding the $27 million goal and reaching an all-time high for the University. The total is a 23 percent increase ($5.7 million) over the previous year. A record-setting 32,295 donors helped to achieve this success, an increase of 7 percent (2,065 donors) over the previous year.
This incredible growth was spurred by three challenge gifts from members of the Brown Corporation.
- The $1.5 million Participation Challenge encouraged all members of the Brown community to support the Annual Fund. This challenge inspired 7 percent growth in the number of donors and led to a new University record.
- The Brown Annual Fund Leaders Challenge offered a total of $1 million to encourage Annual Fund gifts of $10,000-$24,999 and $25,000 or more. Both goals were exceeded as 708 Brown Annual Fund Leaders stepped forward, the largest number to date. Their contributions reached $21.9 million setting another Annual Fund record.
- The $1 million GOLD Challenge matched gifts from graduates of the last decade (classes of 1996-2005) as well as the Class of 2006. Gifts received prior to December 31 were matched at a rate of 3:1; subsequent gifts were matched 2:1 until the challenge funds were exhausted.
Members of the GOLD classes (1996-2006) led the growth in number of donors, reporting an 18 percent increase over the previous year. The Class of 2001 saw the largest increase (64%) and set a new record for participation in the 5th Reunion gift, surpassing the one established by the Class of 1986 fifteen years ago. A record number of graduating seniors (965 members of the class) contributed to the Senior Class Gift.
Reunion alumni donated $9.3 million, 30 percent of the Annual Fund’s overall total. For the first time, the Brown Annual Fund received class gifts in excess of $2 million. The 25th Reunion gift totaled $2,001,821, and the 30th Reunion gift reached $2,500,627. Four other classes broke existing Reunion gift records—1946, 1951, 1971, and 1986.
The Parents Annual Fund solidified its position as a national leader as gifts from Brown parents increased by 25 percent to a new record of $4.2 million. The number of parent donors grew to just over 6,100, a 5 percent increase over the previous year.
These outstanding results demonstrate the strong commitment that alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends have to Brown. The University is grateful for their generous support.
Recent Graduates Meet the GOLD Challenge
The first of three Annual Fund challenge gifts offered by members of the Brown Corporation has been earned. The GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Challenge provided an added incentive for Brown’s most recent graduates and this year’s senior class to participate in the Brown Annual Fund. Alumni gifts were matched 3:1 if received before January 1, senior gifts were matched 3:1 until Commencement, and gifts from both groups were matched 2:1 after these deadlines. The challengers offered a total of $1 million in matching funds which have now been fully expended.
Alumni response to the GOLD Challenge has been very strong. With the Class of 2001 leading the way with 36.5% participation, the number of donors to date from the ten most recent undergraduate classes has already surpassed last year’s final total. Senior Class Gift participation has already reached 62% with two weeks remaining in the fundraising year.
The Brown Annual Fund is still actively seeking the help of members of the GOLD classes as well as all other alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends to earn a second Corporation-sponsored challenge. The $1.5 million Participation Challenge will be earned when 32,650 donors contribute to the 2005-2006 Brown Annual Fund. Gifts from 3,941 more donors must be received by June 30 in order to bring these much-needed resources to the University.
Class of 2006 Seeks Record Brown Annual Fund Participation
Over 650 members of the Class of 2006 gathered on May 4th at Alumnae Hall to celebrate the launch of the Senior Class Gift and learn more from President Ruth J. Simmons about Boldly Brown: Campaign for Academic Enrichment.
Co-Chairs Sara Cunningham '06 and Craig Fountain '06 addressed their classmates first, stressing the importance of reaching the 70 percent Brown Annual Fund participation goal set by the Class of 2006.
"I gave to the Brown Annual Fund because I want to begin my own tradition of giving," said Sara Cunningham '06. "It is because of past gifts that I was able to attend Brown. Encouraging my classmates to make a tradition of giving ensures that the Brown experience remains strong, vibrant, and engaging."
"I feel that it is my duty and the duty of every graduate of Brown to, in some way, give back to Brown as a sign of gratitude for the opportunities that this University provides to its students," said Craig Fountain '06. "The easiest and one of the most rewarding ways to do this is by donating to the Brown Annual Fund. I feel very privileged to have Brown University on my resume and to have spent four years with amazing classmates and I will give money to the Annual Fund every year."
President Simmons joined the graduating seniors for a class photo, then addressed the enthusiastic crowd. "No one understands better than the Class of 2006 the benefits of Academic Enrichment, because you have seen the results first-hand during your undergraduate careers," she said. "You have witnessed growth in our faculty; expansion of course choices and curricular options; increases in financial aid; progress in matters of diversity; improvements in campus life and in campus facilities, from classrooms and laboratories to spaces for study and athletics."
She spoke about the well-attended Boldly Brown regional launch events and told the Class of 2006 what is at stake with the Campaign for Academic Enrichment: "Remember what depends on the success of Boldly Brown. The dreams of thousands of gifted young men and women across the country and around the world will be fulfilled on this campus in the years ahead – if our campaign is successful, if our Annual Fund revenues continue to rise. Your gifts, this year and every year, will contribute directly to bringing those educational, artistic, scientific, and personal dreams to life."
As of May 9th, the Class of 2006 Senior Class Gift is at 45% participation. Seniors are urged to make their gifts to the Brown Annual Fund prior to Commencement to help earn two challenges put forward by the Brown Corporation – the Participation Challenge and the GOLD Challenge.
Every Donor Makes an Impact
In its quest to reach its 2005-2006 goal of $27 million dollars raised, the Brown Annual Fund is also driving toward another important objective: involving as many individual donors as possible in the effort.
The Brown Corporation sought to aid this endeavor when they offered $1.5 million in challenge funds to stimulate increased participation in the Annual Fund. The entire amount will be earned when the number of individual donors surpasses last year's total by 8% or 2,420 donors. To help earn the challenge, gifts must be received by June 30, 2006.
The value of participation exceeds the amount of each individual's contribution. When donors join together through the Annual Fund, they have a significant collective impact. For example, last year 120 donors each contributed $25 and funded an Undergraduate Teaching and Research Assistantship (UTRA); 25 gifts of $100 supported an anthropology graduate student's summer research; 74 donors each contributed $250 and provided scholarship support for a graduating senior; and 92 donors of $1,000 each paid the salary of an assistant professor.
In addition, Annual Fund gifts help Brown secure grants from corporations and foundations, which look to see that those who know an institution best are willing to commit their own resources to it. Participation is widely recognized as a signal of strong community support for the university's academic mission and, as such, is also a factor in determining Brown's ranking among its peer institutions. Thanks to the generosity of students, alumni, parents, and friends, the Annual Fund is currently 63% of the way toward its participation goal. And an incredible 45% of that total was raised by the Brown Annual Fund student callers, who recently met with President Ruth J. Simmons to exchange stories about Brown's incredible supporters, fundraising for the University, and the future of the campaign (see story below).
President Simmons Visits the Student Calling Center
On February 27, President Ruth J. Simmons visited with Brown’s student callers in Maddock Alumni Center. She thanked them for the important role that they play in reaching out to alumni, parents, and friends on behalf of the University and garnering support for the Plan for Academic Enrichment. She also congratulated them on having reached the $1 million mark in gifts and pledges to the University just two weeks earlier.
After her remarks, the student callers had the opportunity to ask questions. Marc Donohue ’07 asked what changes we can expect to see in the University-College model in the coming years, particularly in light of the focus on strengthening the Graduate School. President Simmons reaffirmed Brown’s commitment to the University-College model and explained that the decision to strengthen the Graduate School grew out of that commitment. “This is not a question of ‘either/or,’” she emphasized. “To raise the University to new levels of excellence, we need the best undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty.”
Students also had the chance to share some of their phone experiences with President Simmons. One amazing story came from Nathan Burch ’07, a currency enthusiast, who spoke with an alumnus from the class of 1939. The alum shared that, while he was at Brown, he had placed a dollar bill in one of the old dictionaries at the library. Nathan found the oldest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary in storage at the John Hay Library. To his delight, the 1923 dollar bill was still there where the alum said he had left it—right next to the word “gag.”
The last question of the evening came from a graduating senior who asked the President to share her advice for those who will be leaving campus in May. She advised the students always to make decisions that they can stand by, remembering that each one matters, and to be true to themselves as they journey beyond this wonderful place.
As the students began to call alumni on behalf of the Annual Fund, the President mingled with them observing their conversations and sharing stories about connecting with the greater Brown community. “President Simmons reminded us of the importance of the work that we do,” summed up student manager Ari Nielsen ’06. “Everyone enjoyed and appreciated her visit very much. It was inspiring!”
Joan Wernig Sorensen '72, P'06, P'06 Awarded H. Anthony Ittleson '60 Cup
Since her graduation from Brown University in 1972, Joan Wernig Sorensen has demonstrated exemplary class leadership as well as a deep commitment to the Brown Annual Fund.
From her early days as a class agent and phonathon volunteer, Joan has been in the trenches promoting annual giving. Over the years, she has led her class in numerous reunion giving campaigns. Joan served for many years on the Brown Annual Fund Executive Committee, and is now entering her fifth year on the Brown Annual Fund Leadership Council.
Joan sees the big picture and takes action to motivate others to join her in her visionary and proactive leadership. Last winter, Joan was the inspirational creator of the "Grand Challenge," spearheading fundraising efforts for a challenge that focused on the critical $1,000 benchmark. This challenge in turn inspired over 3,327 alumni, parents and friends to step forward with gifts at this level, an 8.2% increase over the previous year's all time record.
Brown University is fortunate to have Joan's consistent and compelling focus on annual giving and the Brown Annual Fund. Joan's strong and many-faceted volunteer leadership in addition to her terrific history with the Brown Annual Fund have now led her to critical roles with the President's Leadership Council, the Women's Leadership Council and most recently as a Regional Vice Chair for the Campaign for Academic Enrichment.
She is a worthy successor to Tony Ittleson and a wonderful friend to Brown.
$3.5 Million Campaign Challenge Announced
Members of the Brown Corporation have issued a $3.5 million Brown Annual Fund Challenge to celebrate the launch of the Campaign for Academic Enrichment.
Providence, RI - October 22, 2005 - At the public launch on October 22, 2005 of Brown University's ambitious fundraising campaign, "Boldly Brown: Campaign for Academic Enrichment," one of the highlights was Chancellor Steve Robert's announcement of a commitment of $3.5 million to the 2005-2006 Brown Annual Fund from members of the Brown Corporation. By making this commitment, these Brown leaders emphasized the importance of the Annual Fund and of broad participation in the Campaign for Academic Enrichment. Campaign Co-Chair Jerome Vascellaro '74 P'07 dubbed the effort a "Bold Burst for BAF."
Their commitment will be divided among three target areas, which will comprise the Brown Annual Fund's Corporation Challenge. The first aims to motivate record numbers of alumni, parents, students, and friends to contribute to the Annual Fund at any level. The second seeks to grow the number of Brown Annual Fund Leaders (donors of $10,000 or more), and the third encourages graduating seniors and the graduates of the last decade (GOLD) to participate.
$1.5 Million - Participation Challenge
To achieve an 8% increase in the number of donors and reach 32,650 individual donors to BAF, a new all-time record
$1 Million - Brown Annual Fund Leaders Challenge
The first $500k to achieve 430 donors at $10,000 -$24,999
The second $500k to achieve 235 donors of $25,000 or more
$1 Million - GOLD Challenge (Graduates of the Last Decade (1996-2005) and the Senior Class (2006) are eligible)
3:1 match for gifts received by 12/31
3:1 match for all senior class gifts received by Commencement
2:1 match thereafter
Brown Annual Fund sets new records for donors and dollars
Providence, RI - July 26, 2005 - A record-setting 30,230 members of the Brown Community made gifts to the 2004-2005 Brown Annual Fund, contributing $25,077,372. This all-time high in dollars raised represents an increase of $2.2 million (9.6%) over last year's results, while the number of donors increased by 2,952 (10.8%).
Highlights of the fundraising year include:
The Ittleson GOLD Participation Challenge was earned and giving from young alumni increased. Between March 1 and May 1, Tony Ittleson '60 P'89 '90 matched Brown Annual Fund gifts from members of the undergraduate and graduate classes of 1995-2004 as well as the graduating class of 2005 at the rate of 2:1. He continued to match subsequent gifts at the rate of 1:1 until the entire $500,000 in matching funds was expended. The Class of 2005 set a new participation record for the Senior Class Gift, reaching 68.3%, besting the classes of 2002 and 2003 which both reached 66%.
Brown was also successful in achieving the Brown Annual Fund Leaders Challenge. When an anonymous challenger issued the call for 600 donors to make gifts of $10,000 or more, the call was answered and the $500,000 challenge was earned. A record total of 607 Brown Annual Fund Leaders made gifts totaling $16.6 million. Leadership dollars increased by $2.1 million (14.6%) and donors increased by 76 (14.3%).
The Grand Challenge, issued by five Brown Annual Fund Leadership Council volunteers (Joan Wernig Sorensen '72 P'06 '06, Tom Berry '69 P'92 '96, Jim Burke '73 P'05 '06, Richard Dresdale '78, and Ralph Rosenberg '86), called for a 10% increase in the number of $1,000+ Brown Annual Fund donors. The challenge was structured so that $50,000 would be earned for each percentage-point increase in the number of $1,000+ donors, up to a maximum of $500,000. Fiscal year 2004 saw a record 17% increase in the number of donors at this level, so another 10% increase was certainly an ambitious goal. Three thousand three hundred twenty seven donors made gifts of $1,000 or more, an 8.2% increase over last year that earned Brown $400,000 in challenge funds.
Reunion Classes raised $7.3 million, a 12% increase over last year. Seven classes set new Brown Annual Fund records. For the first time, three classes - 1985, 1980, and 1975 - contributed more than one million dollars to the Brown Annual Fund.
Brown's Parents Annual Fund continues as a national leader with $3.36 million received this year from non-alumni parents, believed to be the largest parents annual fund gift in the Ivy League.
View the 2004-2005 results.
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