Teamwork and record giving
Generous donors, enthusiastic volunteers, challenge gifts, and an emphasis on University priorities helped raise the bar on reunion giving in 2011–2012. Of the thirteen Yale College reunion classes, two set records—1967 and 2002—and seven other classes moved into the top-ten spots for their respective reunions.
Together, the reunion classes brought in $54.35 million during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, handily exceeding their goal of $35.84 million for the year. They added $12.6 million more to their reunion totals in 2012 than classes during the comparable period last year.
Notably, the youngest reunion classes participated generously: the classes of 2002 and 2007 both met aggressive participation challenges, and the Class of 2002 turned in a record-breaking gift of $1,936,020 for its 10th Reunion.
The success of reunions reflected hard work, teamwork, and class spirit: in total, 372 volunteers reached out to 3,109 classmates to solicit their support of the University. Many classes, especially among younger alumni, had three or four co-chairs and an expanded volunteer corps that could speak to a broad representation of classmates.
Collectively, the reunion classes exceeded their Annual Fund dollar goals by nearly $1 million, and several initiatives emphasized the Nathan Hale Associates scholarships. Seven classes leveraged a total of eight challenges that would benefit the Annual Fund, seeking to raise both dollars and participation levels. The Class of 1967 contributed a record-high 45th Reunion gift of over $46 million, including a scholarship in memory of Robert “Biff” McKellip, their only classmate to die in action in the Vietnam War.
Yale College Reunion Class Performance 2011–2012
1947 |
$3,151,544; Participation: 64% |
1952 |
$18,358,334; Participation: 86% * |
1957 |
$12,521,628; Participation: 72% * |
1962 |
$45,119,246; Participation: 60% * |
1967 |
$46,634,459; Participation: 57% ** |
1972 |
$6,112,905; Participation: 50% |
1977 |
$7,989,637; Participation: 51% |
1982 |
$10,563,541; Participation: 49% * |
1987 |
$25,035,510; Participation: 80% * |
1992 |
$8,873,088; Participation: 43% * |
1997 |
$1,163,187; Participation: 42% |
2002 |
$1,936,020; Participation: 47% ** |
2007 |
$267,418; Participation: 53% * |
*Reunion Class Within Top Ten
** Reunion Class Record