The Brown Annual Fund is a "family of funds" that encompasses Brown's annual giving opportunities. Together, these funds touch nearly every nook and cranny of life at Brown. As the University’s primary vehicle for unrestricted support, The Brown Annual Fund provides vital funding where it’s most needed across College Hill. Here’s a selection of tangible initiatives you support when giving to the Annual Fund:
Financial Aid - One of our greatest areas of need is financial aid. With The Brown Fund, we’re able to make a Brown education possible for the most talented students from every income stratum. Brown meets 100% of each student's demonstrated financial need. And we do this with no loans — only scholarship grants that do not have to be repaid — included in University financial aid packages. With the cost of providing an education continuing to rise, consistent support to the Brown Annual Fund is needed to maintain our commitment to meet 100% of each student’s demonstrated financial need.
Emergency Support - For low-income undergraduate students, including financial assistance for trips home, laptops, books, health insurance, and access to campus dining and housing for those who are unable to afford to travel home during academic breaks.
BrownConnect – A center on campus that invites alumni, parents and friends from Brown’s global community to post opportunities for internships, career advice, and networking. Students can search for internship and research opportunities in a wide range of fields and locations, as well as financial support for low-paid or unpaid internships. The program has been tremendously successful in expanding the number and accessibility of undergraduate internships and research opportunities, as well as in helping all students to grow their professional networks before graduation. Building on its success linking students with alumni, BrownConnect expanded in June 2018 to include an alumni-to-alumni career networking platform, advancing the University’s vision to be a lifelong partner for career development. Learn more: https://brownconnect.brown.edu/
Centers that provide support, resources, and mentorship for students from diverse communities Includes Brown Center for Students of Color, the LGBTQ Center, the Global Brown Center for International Students, the Office of Military-Affiliated Students, the Sarah Doyle Center for Women and Gender, and the Undocumented, First-Generation College, and Low-Income Student Center (U-FLi Center).
U-FLi Center - The Undocumented, First-Generation College and Low-Income Student Center (U-FLi Center) is a communal, learning, and advocacy center for members of the Brown community who identify with the undocumented, first-generation college, and/or low-income student experience. By providing undergraduate and graduate students with a dedicated space that affirms their intersectional identities, the U-FLi Center aims to contribute to the endurance and success of U-FLi students at Brown University. Learn more: https://www.brown.edu/ufli/home.
Campus Sustainability Fund - The Campus Sustainability Fund aims to help the University realize its ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2025 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. It helps to support: 1) overhauling the University's central power plant and heating system, eventually providing the ability to heat all buildings on campus with renewable energy sources, 2) Offsetting all Brown's on-campus electricity use through the construction of new solar and wind energy sources, 3) Reducing our energy demand through climate-smart building renovations, technology upgrades, electrification of our transportation fleets, and incorporation of new design principles across our campus.
Book Buying Program – Launched in 2018, covers textbook and course material costs for students with the highest financial need. These students have all required textbook and course material costs covered via a simple swipe of their Brown ID card at the Brown Bookstore.
This program also saves Brown a significant amount money. Previously, these students simply received a lump-sum of additional financial funds to spend on books and course materials. These dollars were often spent on books at third-party sites (like Amazon). This program ensures that these scholarship dollars are used at the Brown Bookstore, without any change in what is provided for the students (who get the needed books and materials either way).
First-year Seminars – The Brown Annual Fund supports first-year seminars. First-Year Seminars (FYS) aim to promote close interaction between faculty and students in a small setting that encourages curricular innovation and pedagogical innovation. Since its inception in 2002, Brown's First-Year Seminar program has provided an entrée for incoming first-years, not only into college-level work, but into Brown's unique academic culture. They offer a welcoming environment to learn about a new field and to develop a bond with a faculty member.
Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards (UTRAs) - Supports Brown students collaborating with Brown faculty on research and teaching projects during the summer or the academic year. Named for the dean who launched the program in the 1980s, UTRAs provide students with valuable academic experience that prepares them for graduate study and that contributes directly to course development at Brown.
Minority Peer Counselor (MPC) Program - For more than 40 years, MPCs have been a vital link in the network for support available to new students of color at Brown. MPCs are placed in first-year residence halls, serving as a live-in mentor and guide to all things Brown. Together they have a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of campus resources, student groups, organizations, events, and happenings—allowing them to help students find their place at Brown and connecting them with the support they need.
Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Studies – Objectives of the Center are: Promote rigorous, interdisciplinary research in both human rights and humanitarianism, and explore both synergies and tensions between these fields. Reimagine the education and training of the next generation of humanitarian and human rights researchers, educators, and responders. Support human rights and humanitarian programming that engages faculty, visiting scholars, and practitioners from communities around the globe to explore current crises and share best practices. Enable students -- undergraduate, graduate, and medical -- to become engaged in human rights and humanitarian work through action-learning (internship) opportunities. Leverage our alumni network to support current students in areas of mentorship, professional development, career placement, and inspiration. Learn more: https://watson.brown.edu/chrhs/about
IPC Brown Annual Fund Scholarship - The Inman Page Black Alumni Council (IPC) Brown Annual Fund (BAF) Scholarship provides financial aid for exceptional African American and Black students at Brown. Created in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Black Student Walkout of 1968, the scholarship is one of the University's newest additions to its growing efforts to cultivate a fully diverse and inclusive Brown. Support for the scholarship has continued to grow exponentially. The scholarship has expanded to cumulatively support eight students since its launch.
Athletics Annual Fund - Travel opportunities for our teams to compete away from College Hill. Equipment and technology to enhance practice and game conditions. Recruiting funds for coaches to scout and attract well-rounded future Bears. Resources for team initiatives both on and off-the-field, enhancing the student-athlete experience.
Public Health Annual Fund - Advancing the School's work in high-impact public health arenas, including opioid addiction, climate change and health, and mindfulness. Financial assistance (including fellowship aid, research stipends, emergency gap funds, and travel expenses) to allow our students to commit themselves fully to their education and experiential learning. Bringing accomplished researchers and educators to Brown to further the School's research efforts and teach the next generation of public health professionals. Pilot research grants that help position the School to compete for large government grants.
Brown Medical Annual Fund - Bringing the most talented medical students to Brown through scholarship aid. Funding for the Doctoring program, which provides all first- and second-year students early exposure to real patients and medical practice. Increasing access to a variety of enrichment opportunities through service learning and community service. The Scholarly Concentrations program and curriculum development to expand academic offerings and stay up to date with the latest trends in medicine, science, technology, and public health. Summer research that allows students to explore a future career path or ignite a passion that enhances their practice of medicine.
Engineering Annual Fund - Enhancing our teaching environments to ensure that our students and faculty have the latest technology, equipment, and resources at their fingertips. Expanding learning opportunities outside the classroom, including support for research opportunities, student travel expenses, co-curricular groups, and the Brown Design Workshop. Attracting and retaining the best faculty to teach and conduct research at Brown. Unrestricted support to enable new initiatives under the School's new financially independent model.
And more!