Despite the hard economic times, Wellesley has seen an increase in unrestricted monetary support from its alumnae. As of Feb. 28, 2010, annual giving totals are at $6,353,000, a 7.3 percent increase over totals from this time last year.
Annual giving dollars are a crucial piece of the college's budget, according to Cameran Mason, vice president for resources and public affairs. Unlike most money from endowments, which is often restricted to a specific use upon the request of the donor, money from annual giving is unrestricted. Mason said these unrestricted funds can support many different costs such as general operating and maintenance, but a large amount supports financial aid.
Kathy Osmond, director of student financial services, agreed. "We need those gifts for our financial aid grant budget, and we use them well," she said.
Courtney Greene, associate director of annual giving, noted that since tuition does not cover the full cost of a student's experience at the college, every student is supported by alumnae donors. The balance comes in part, she said, from unrestricted annual gifts, which are very important to the college.
Mason said that the annual giving has not been negatively affected by the poor economic situation and that actually more unrestricted funds were given in 2009 than in 2008. Mason said she thinks Wellesley alumnae are strongly committed to need-blind admissions and when the economy was down there was a lot of support for meeting student needs.
However, students who work at Phonathon are experiencing a more difficult climate. Zahra Muhamad '10, lead supervisor of Phonathon, said, "A lot more alumnae are feeling discouraged" by the hard economic times. Phonathon students have noticed that lately some alumnae need encouragement to give even a small amount. Annual participation is more important than the size of the gift though, because donor amounts affect how the college is seen in the outside world, according to Muhamad.
Wellesley has also seen a 2.3 percent increase in donor numbers over this time last year. According to Mason, donor numbers are a crucial factor in the external rating of the college.. Mason said the college is continuing to work on raising donor numbers. Many college ranking lists, such as "U.S. News and World Report America's Best Colleges" (on which Wellesley is currently tied in fourth place with Middlebury College in the Liberal Arts college category), factors alumni participation into their equations. Some comparable schools have higher alumni participation rates, and this gives them the competitive edge. Mason said the college hopes to see its alumnae participation rates at over 50 percent by 2011.
Wellesley College alumnae are sought out to donate money via mail, e-mail, in-person conversations with fund-raising staff, solicitations by fellow alumnae and by Phonathon, a program through which students call alumnae and ask for gifts to Wellesley.
Muhamad said the program contacts all alumnae from the classes of the 1930s and on every year, which is equivalent to about 30,000 women.
Not only does Phonathon ask for support through donations, but it also tries to make connections with alumnae and update them on current college life. Some alumnae say they wait all year for the call from the Phonathon students. Mason said alumnae respond well to the students' requests and enjoy hearing from current students because they like to hear about current life at their college.
Annual giving for each alumna beings with the Senior Gift campaign at the end of the senior year when graduating students are alumnaeasked to make their first monetary contribution to the college. The money collected is unrestricted and often goes to support other students through the College's financial aid program. Students are allowed contribute to the Senior Gift in honor of any member of the Wellesley community who has been special to her in some way. Underclasswomen are also permitted donate to the Senior Gift in honor of a special senior. Persons honored in the Senior Gift are invited to a reception that celebrates the distinction.
Greene said the Senior Gift is a class' first opportunity to mark and create their legacy at the college. It is important to the college that from this point on, annual support of any amount is given by alumnae.
Muhamad noted that if every senior gave to the Senior Gift, it would be equivalent to a two percent increase in total donor numbers.
Greene said that the Senior Gift is not about the monetary amount but instead about participation and class pride where the students are able to see the strength and vibrancy of their class.
"It is also just a sense of giving back," Muhamad said about annual giving. "It's about showing solidarity and showing support."
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