On Nov. 21, The Wellesley Fund hosted the fifth Wellesley Giving Day, in which 1,504 donors came together to raise $442,766, with 73 classes represented. The class year with the most donors and most dollars raised was the Class of 1977. Although the Fund raised $35,032 less than last year, 157 more donors participated in this year’s Giving Day.
Celebrated annually, Wellesley Giving Day is a day dedicated to raising money for The Wellesley Fund, a fund used for all aspects of campus life. According to The Wellesley Fund’s website, the funds go towards students’ financial aid, residential life curriculum, teaching and research opportunities, and physical and mental health services.
The Wellesley Fund is “a 25.1 million dollar goal that is unrestricted money used for what we call immediate impact,” said Amy Burke, Senior Director of Annual Giving Programs.
Alumni who have a particular affinity for a specific cause, such as sports teams or certain academic departments, can specify that when they make their donation.
Burke explained that the fund is not a “slush fund,” rather it accounts for 5% of the college’s operating revenue.
“[The Wellesley Fund] doesn’t seem glamorous, but the operating money empowers the mission [of the college],” said Burke.
Because The Wellesley Fund acts as immediate impact money for the college, it can be used to address unprecedented financial needs. For example, the pandemic could not have been anticipated and was not budgeted for, but according to Burke, millions of dollars were available to address the unique needs of the student body during that tumultuous time because of The Wellesley Fund.
According to the Wellesley College Annual Report 2020-2021, there was a 21.1% increase in the Fund’s contribution to operating revenue, from $14,165 in 2020 to $17,154 in 2021. These changes in expenses included health and safety measures to increase ventilation and keep students socially distanced, as well as technology to support at-home learning.
In tandem with the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), The Wellesley Fund supplemented financial aid grants for students whose financial circumstances differed due to the pandemic. According to Burke, The Wellesley Fund provided a necessary safety net for unexpected costs associated with the pandemic, highlighting the funds’ importance in times of unexpected need.
This year, there was an effort to appeal to millennial donors by showing how the causes that they’re passionate about are being put into action at Wellesley. However, older generations remained the most likely to give: the classes with the most donors were 1977, 1983 and 1994. The classes with the most dollars raised were 1977, 1981 and 1994.
“Some of the top causes– environment, library research, equity and inclusion– things our alums are supporting, we have at Wellesley,” said Burke.
Burke expressed her gratitude for the generosity of donors.
“I have not found a more empowering community than Wellesley. Even with our graduates making 85 cents on the dollar compared to Harvard alumni, our alumni show that it’s okay for us as a community to support things we care about,” said Burke.
The success of Giving Day means that Wellesley will have the funds to continue to provide financial aid, as well as supporting academic programs and other resources to help Wellesley students achieve their goals.
Burke said that students should remember the support they have from alumni: “[There are] 30,000 alums behind you, watching it from afar … You may never meet, but the bond current students and alumni share is so valuable.”
Contact the editors responsible for this story: Ruby Barenberg, Lyanne Wang, Sazma Sarwar, and Valida Pau.
