How To Give
Connecting at Brown (The "C@B")
The C@B, the Brown Annual Fund's student calling center, plays an important role in securing gifts to support the Plan for Academic Enrichment which benefits faculty and students throughout the University. In 2006-2007 student callers raised more than $2 million for Brown. This includes a 17% increase in money raised for the Brown Annual Fund over the previous year.
Brown strives to have personal contact on an annual basis with each of its alumni, parents, and friends, a group that numbers more than 85,000. The students of the C@B have conversations with over 30,000 members of the Brown community each year.
Brown's student callers are proud representatives of the University and enjoy sharing the news from campus with alumni, parents, and friends; receiving feedback from the community on University efforts; and encouraging everyone to participate in the Brown Annual Fund.
A Tale of Two Callers
The Calling Program is an integral component of the Brown Annual Fund, raising much-needed dollars while giving current Brown undergraduates the chance to call and connect directly with alumni, parents and friends. Donors often remark that the conversations they have with students such as Marc Donahue ’07 and Nicole Burns ’09 are friendly, informative, and, at times, nostalgic reminders of their time at Brown.
Marc Donahue ’07 has served as an enthusiastic student caller every semester since spring 2004. After a recent conversation with Marc, one donor commented, “I have never been so receptive to someone calling me to ask for money. I enjoyed talking with Marc about current events on campus.” Marc believes strongly that “an opportunity to be educated at Brown can't be passed up.” He also recognizes that donor contributions offer a way to realize the dream of a first-rate education. “Financial aid means that I can take an unpaid internship at a museum, so I can gain the skills that I need for a job. It means that I can fly home for the holidays. It also means that I can start a family sooner someday, because I won't be paying off loans for so long. It frees students to focus on their studies, not the balance in a checkbook.”
Nicole Burns ’09 came to the Calling Center for the first time in summer 2006. However, the sophomore from Newburgh, NY is already making a lasting impression on donors, who have referred to Nicole as an “informed delight” with a “straightforward and effective” style of communicating. “Nicole made a connection,” said one donor after speaking with her. “Each caller brings his or her personality – and individual Brown experience – to the conversation,” said Stephanie Boyce, Project Manager. “Alumni and parents find it really meaningful to speak with a current student. It’s a wonderful way to reconnect with the university, learn what’s happening at Brown, or share their college memories with today’s students.”
If you have questions about the student calling program, please contact Annual Fund staff member Stephanie Boyce.
Contact Us
Brown Annual Fund |
Annual_Fund@brown.edu |