Gifts to the Parents Fund on a recording setting pace

As the college faces a decline in the level of income generated by the endowment, alumni, parents and friends of the college have joined together in record numbers to support the college through the Annual Fund. Gifts from parents, both current parents and parents of alumni, are on a record breaking pace. To date, more than 247 parents have made a gift to the Parents Fund, an 88% increase over the previous year.

“The response from parents has been incredible this year,” according to Heath Elliott, senior director for college advancement. “While some donors may feel that a gift of $100 has little impact, parents have shown that collectively their support can be substantial.” As of mid January, parents had contributed nearly $75,000 in unrestricted gifts.

Each gift, directed toward the operating budget, provides support for student and faculty research collaborations, community outreach projects, and various student activities throughout the semester.  Unlike many colleges with larger endowment payouts, HMC relies much more significantly on annual gifts to meet necessary budget obligations to provide the type of outstanding student experience the college has become know for. Indeed, these gifts—most ranging from $50 to $150—have a significant impact on the college’s ability to remain one of the top undergraduate colleges in the country.

In order to keep the college moving forward, HMC’s trustees have increased their support over the past few years, making significant unrestricted annual gifts. Their financial commitments have led the way toward a greater understanding of the importance of these budget-relieving gifts to the college. The number of parents who have stepped forward to join the trustees is encouraging. By pooling small as well as large gifts together, every gift becomes not only important, but necessary. Check out where the money goes to learn how the college allocates each unrestricted gift.

The Parent Fund campaign runs from July 2009 through June 2010, but the sooner you make your gift, the sooner we can put it to work. Student callers will soon reach out to parents and ask for your continued support, while updating you on the latest news from campus.