A Record-Breaking Close to the Annual Fund’s Fiscal Year—and Thoughts from Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Stephanie Frost

Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Stephanie Frost shares her perspective on the value of the 1794 Society’s contributions and the impact they have on the Bowdoin community.

How did Bowdoin’s fundraising efforts achieve record-breaking Alumni Fund success this year?

First and foremost, I would credit the success to great leadership from our donors and volunteers. We are incredibly grateful to our loyal and generous alumni, parents, families, and friends who invest in the College each and every year. The gifts at the 1794 Society level are a true testament to the strength of this community, comprising 82 percent of overall Alumni Fund revenue this year. The team and I especially appreciate volunteers who have dedicated their time to building relationships and soliciting support for Bowdoin, whether through the 1794 Membership Committee or Reunion Committees or on a Class Agent team. We are fortunate and grateful to have a strong cohort of volunteers dedicated to advancing the College’s mission.

This year’s success also stems from our ability to resume in-person gatherings—most notably Reunion Weekend, where we saw more alumni attendees than ever before. Alumni, parents, and families are finally able to visit campus and reconnect in very meaningful ways, and that can translate into greater participation in giving.

How has fundraising changed in the last few years and how has it affected alumni and their support of the College?

For many, particularly 1794 Society members, Bowdoin remains a philanthropic priority. In terms of revenue, the last three years have been the best in Alumni Fund history, which isn’t surprising given the dedication and generosity of our alumni. Bowdoin’s impact on the lives of our alumni, and those of our current students, resonates and motivates many to continue to support the institution. This is a testament to the strength and loyalty of our donor community.

Why is the 1794 membership a vital part of the Alumni Fund?

Bowdoin receives strong fund-wide support, with gifts at every level. Those who support at the leadership level are investing in the From Here campaign’s three promises: for the College to remain need-blind and no-loan, to provide an extraordinary academic experience, and to support students in their career exploration and development. Our fundraising success this year–surpassing $10 million in the Alumni Fund for the first time ever–is the direct result of 1794 Society members’ gifts.

What is Bowdoin’s greatest financial need right now?

Bowdoin is committed to remaining one of relatively few colleges offering need-blind, no-loan financial aid packages—and that investment extends beyond the typical aid awards. Most recently, Bowdoin announced the expansion of its need-blind policy to include international students. Last spring, we announced increased investment in aid for middle-income families. Making sure our students are career-ready is a huge financial need as well. We are committed to providing funding for internships and career advising and preparation so our students are equipped to leave Bowdoin and compete for the best jobs available. The endowment does not cover the entire cost to support our student-facing programs. As Bowdoin’s commitment to these programs grows, so too does the need for funding.

Is the College’s comprehensive From Here campaign still on track?

We have two years left on our $500 million campaign. In spite of the pandemic, we haven’t had to make any adjustments to the goals or timetable. We are on track and even ahead of important projections as we round the corner toward the finish line. Considering all of the global challenges, our collective progress is a testament to the remarkable loyalty, commitment, and generosity of the Bowdoin community. We are currently at $437 million in gifts and pledges, or 87.5 percent of the $500 million goal. We still have two more years of hopefully record-breaking annual giving to achieve before it’s all over. One tremendous success story this past year, in addition to annual giving, was the First Promise Challenge, which generated new support of financial aid and comprehensive aid for students through matching gifts of $100,000 to fifty individual endowed funds, for a total matching gift of $5 million. 

What was the biggest lesson learned in fiscal year 2021–2022 that will impact the work in Bowdoin’s development and alumni relations going forward?

Never underestimate the value and the power of conveying the impact of giving on the lives of our students, faculty—our entire community. We need to begin engaging with our current students early and often around how to support Bowdoin and how they can begin to think about building their own relationships with the College as alumni and donors. We need to make sure we are communicating clearly and effectively about how valuable annual support is to the life of the College. We need to make sure we are inviting all our alumni to join in this important effort by making sure they know that the things they care most about, and that make Bowdoin special, are the things that annual giving is supporting.