College Advancement
The Washington Fund
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Meet the Staff
The Washington Fund
Updated 04/27/12
"Washington College helped me find a voracious love of learning that inspired me to work harder than I ever had before. None of my memories, achievements, or inspirations would have happened without the generosity of scholarship donors through The Washington Fund."
— Kelsey Newborn '12
What is The Washington Fund?
The Washington Fund is a collective pool of annual gifts from alumni, parents and friends that provides budget-relieving support for the College's highest priorities and most important initiatives. The Washington Fund is the first fundraising priority of WC because donations help sustain these vital aspects of the Washington College experience:
Scholarships
This year's freshman class is the smartest ever to enter WC, and 95% receive some form of financial aid. Your gift to The Washington Fund contributes to scholarship relief and allows Washington College to select the brightest critical thinkers and community leaders, regardless of their financial need.
Faculty and Staff Support
Few colleges can boast the 13:1 student to faculty ratio Washington College is able to provide; class sizes average less than 20 students! Your gift to The Washington Fund ensures that WC attracts, supports and retains the highest quality faculty and staff, and continues to deliver highly individualized educational experiences.
Campus Beautification
Brick walkways, lush landscaping, impressive historic buildings and state-of-the-art facilities distinguish and enhance the WC learning environment. Your gift to The Washington Fund upholds a campus environment rich with Chesapeake history.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
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Q. The cost of a Washington College education is expensive. Isn't that enough to sustain the College's operations?
Unfortunately, no. Though it may seem unbelievable – tuition, room, board, and student fees cover only about 78% of the total cost of one Washington College education. Currently, gifts to The Washington Fund cover 2.5% of the total cost for each student. Without this support, each student's tuition would be almost $1,500 more! We depend on support from alumni, parents and friends to meet our ambitious $1.4 million goal by June 30, 2012.
Q. What is the Endowment, and how does it relate to The Washington Fund?
The Washington College Endowment is comprised of diversely invested funds that were donated for general operations or a specific purpose, like a scholarship or professorship. The current approved Endowment Spending Rate is 5% of the average market value unless other instructions were specified by the donor. These annual funds support each and every student's education (see chart in FAQ above for more information).
WC Endowment GrowthUnlike a public institution which receives much of its funding from state or local governments, Washington College relies on its Endowment and programs like The Washington Fund for financial support. Both endowed funds and The Washington Fund are integral to the financial health of WC, and neither would exist without the generous support of alumni, parents and friends.
Q. I'd prefer to direct my gift to a specific program, like the Sho'men Club or the Friends of the Arts. Do those gifts benefit The Washington Fund?
Although your generous gifts to special programming help make Washington College unique, those restricted contributions do not support The Washington Fund. We strongly encourage you to support the special programs that appeal to you, but we hope your first commitment each year will be a gift to The Washington Fund. It is the College's perennial priority because it supports each and every student.
Q. When I make a gift at The 1782 Society level ($1500 + a year), am I supporting The Washington Fund?
That depends. The 1782 Society is a community of donors who have given a total of $1,500 or more to any designation at Washington College during one fiscal year — July 1 to June 30. Every gift to the College is deeply appreciated, though many 1782 Society members choose to give all or a portion of their contribution to The Washington Fund because it benefits all students.
Last year, The 1782 Society's gifts to The Washington Fund supported 72 students who would not have been able to attend the College without this help.
Q. Can I make a gift to The Washington Fund in memory or in honor of someone? How is that gift recognized?
George Washington's Gift of 50 Guineas
Of course! Washington College welcomes gifts to The Washington Fund made in memory or in honor of a favorite professor, a current student, or anyone you wish to celebrate. As always, your gift is tax deductible, so you will receive a receipt and thank you for your records. WC will also send a note to the honored individual or next of kin to inform them of your generosity.
Q. Is it true that high alumni participation can boost Washington College's national rank and standing?
The Class of '64 was awarded the It's true! Graduates who give back to their alma mater send a strong message to external reviewers and potential applicants that Washington College is a worthy investment. High alumni participation can also increase the likelihood of government grant approval. And at WC, it can earn your class a trophy through the Count Me In Campaign.
Beginning with George Washington, many have supported the College because they believe investing in the education of future generations builds better citizenship. As alumni, you have the opportunity to "pay it forward" and give back to today's students, just as other alumni once supported you.
For more information contact Rebekah Hardy '05, Director of The Washington Fund & The 1782 Society at 410-778-7865 or rhardy2@washcoll.edu