Annual Fund donations increase

The Annual Fund, which directly benefits Richmond students, continues to grow despite the recession. Alumni donated more than $5.5 million to the university in 2011, according to annual fund statistics collected by the Office of Annual Giving. This number has increased from $5.1 million from 2009-2010.

Scott Peters, director of annual giving, said the fund provided immediate assistance for financial aid packages and student programming.

This fund also finances first-aid supplies, summer research, online database subscriptions, the Spider Shuttle, on-campus career expos and the annual Business Pitch competition, Peters said.

There were 14,527 donors for the 2010-2011 academic year, up from 13,455 in 2009-2010, according to annual fund statistics.

Money is raised by phonathon callers and staff contacting prospective donors daily, Peters said. Callers talk about the institution, as well as their personal backgrounds. They connect with alumni and ask if they are able to donate, he said.

"I've been told by quite a few alums that they enjoy talking to the students," Peters said. "They share some of the same experiences, which is meaningful."

Peters also sees a great importance in alumni speaking to other alumni to boost donations, he said.

"We have hundreds of alums who volunteer annually to talk to their classmates, Greek friends and teammates," he said. Peters sees this as the most effective way to raise money, he said.

Linda Evans, assistant director of media and public relations, donates money annually, she said. "I feel pride in my alma mater ,and it's important for alumni to help out because we were also helped," she said.

Jenna Baer, assistant director of annual giving, works with recent graduates who make donations. It is a way to give back and show pride, Baer said.

The vast majority of people who give to the university donate through the annual fund and can direct the money to a department or student organization of their choosing, Peters said. "One hundred percent of the money is coming in to support the students," he said. "In the past few years the fund has grown despite economic conditions. It is a testament to how alumni feel about the university."

This version corrects the amount raised in previous years, from "This number is a $5.1 million increase."

Contact staff writer Laila Hart at laila.hart@richmond.edu