Emeriti Resources

The Brown Annual Fund is the primary vehicle for current-use support – it is put to use immediately advancing the University’s highest priorities, including financial aid, faculty support, and the student experience. A family of funds, donors can give through The Brown Fund, as well as the Athletics Annual Fund, targeted opportunities within several Impact Funds, and several professional schools funds.

The Brown Annual Fund keeps us competitive with peers with larger endowments: $25k to BAF is worth $500K in endowment! (This is based on average yield from the endowment: an investment of $500k in the endowment yields about 5% in a given year.)

The Brown Annual Fund is a gift from our generation to the current generation of Brunonians.

Self-reflection: Gratitude for what they received from Brown; recognition that their Brown experience was enhanced by alumni support; a desire to make that possible for today’s students.

Affiliation: The desire to be part of a meaningful effort by the Emeriti; a sense of competition; peer pressure.

Self-interest: Elevating Brown elevates all of us; an investment in the Brown “brand.”

Specific opportunities: Thresholds and milestones; challenge gifts that increase their impact.

“Can you believe it has been XX years since we graduated from Brown (alternatively: since our time on the Corporation)? I am working with our Emeriti colleagues and Brown to set new records for the Brown Annual Fund.”

Ask about your Emeriti colleague’s time at Brown and if they will be attending any upcoming Brown virtual events.

Prepare for your conversation and track your outreach using the Brown Fundraising Volunteer Portal - With this secure, web-based tool, you can learn more about your assigned Emeriti colleague’s time at Brown, their past Brown Annual Fund giving, and important biographical information. You can email the classmate from in the Portal, using high-quality templates provided by your volunteer manager, or draft your own. Emails are automatically documented, so you can track your progress and see when your classmate makes their gift, and your volunteer manager can cheer you on and recognize your efforts to other volunteers in your class. The Portal also has a handy notes feature, which you can use to document gift conversations, including phone calls, virtual or in-person visits, and follow-up emails, as well as helping Brown keep up to date on your classmates by submitting updated biographical information.

Phone vs. email - This is personal preference. Using the Volunteer Portal to send an email to set up a phone conversation is a popular approach.

Upfront about purpose vs. slow warm up - This depends on your relationship with your Emeriti colleague, but we recommend against waiting too long to reveal that you are calling about a gift. After all, we are proud and excited to raise money for Brown.

Know the current progress - Let people know about upcoming thresholds (e.g. beating last year’s participation, crossing the halfway point, etc.) or challenges to motivate them to give now.

Ask for a specific amount (but use your discretion) – based on what you’re hearing during the call and the information you’ve reviewed in the Volunteer Portal or received from your staff liaison, make your ask as specific and appropriate as you can.

Remind people about splitting their gifts over two tax years - The ask can be made in the fall, with the first payment by December 31 and final payment by June 30, and by taking advantage of employer matching gifts.

Multi-year commitments - Remind them that multi-year commitments made during Reunion year will be included in full in the Reunion Class Gift.

Secure a firm commitment - Avoid unspecified pledges by asking when your classmate would like you to follow up.

Follow up - Contact your staff liaison to let them know about next steps. If appropriate, note the date that you’d like to follow up with your classmate to continue the conversation.

“Where did they end up going?”

“How has their experience been there?”

“As you know, Brown is extremely competitive. There were over 36,000 applicants for approximately 2,500 spots in each first year class. The decisions become especially difficult and many extremely qualified applicants do not get accepted.” 

Consider redirecting: “Did you benefit from your time at Brown?”

“I am so sorry to hear that. Your support of the Brown Annual Fund, regardless of the amount, is important. Our priority is not how much you give, but encouraging the act of giving. Alumni participation of any amount has a measurable impact on the University, including enhancing our bond rating and US News & World Report rankings.”

“Can I call you back later in the year to see how you are doing?” 

“Did you have friends who received financial aid?  What if there hadn’t been resources for them to be at Brown while you were there?  Wouldn’t that have changed your experience?”

“What about beloved professors, whose passion changed the direction of your studies?  What if they hadn’t been there?”

“Student attitudes do change from generation to generation, at Brown, as well as at other schools. But the core of the Brown you attended remains - an institution where talented undergraduates work with and learn from outstanding faculty. At Brown, there is room for all perspectives to be heard. Brown is a microcosm of the real world, where opinions vary and different points of views are appreciated.”

“This year, I hope the Annual Fund will be one of your philanthropic priorities as well.”

“It’s our turn to show our support for Brown.  Alumni giving made our experience the best possible, so now it’s up to us to ensure that today’s best minds can come to Brown – teaching and learning.”