Bryn Mawr College

"What is a Senior Gift?"

Beginning with the Class of 1990, the Senior Gift Program has been in place for over 20 years. At first, the Senior Gift was raised as restricted funds, meaning each year selected a specific goal to support. Since 2003, the Senior Gift has been unrestricted, and has been directed towards the Annual Fund. Over the years, the Senior Gift Program has evolved into a long-standing tradition in which students recognize all they have been given by Bryn Mawr and now seek to give back. Nearly every graduating class since 1990 has participated in the Senior Gift, and since the Class of 2007, each year has sought to engage more donors than the previous class.

Last year, the Class of 2011 had 84% participation and raised $5,711.
Can you reach 86%, 2012?

"Where does my gift go?"

The Senior Gift is part of the Annual Fund, which provides unrestricted funds to the College for immediate needs. Donations to the Annual Fund from alumnae, parents, friends, and students alike have financed student internships, faculty enhancements, scholarships and financial aid, and the overall strength of the college. Last year, during the 125th Anniversary of the College, gifts to the Annual Fund exceeded $5.2 million.

The true cost of a Bryn Mawr education—the entire operating budget divided by the number of students—is actually around $75,000 per student. 39 % of the College’s operations each year are subsidized by philanthropy, meaning every Bryn Mawr student receives a hidden “scholarship” of $24,500 contributed by grants, the endowment, and the Annual Fund.

"Why give?"

Giving back to the College is a shared responsibility for all alumnae regardless of age or means. Every gift, regardless of amount, is important, because it increases the College’s participation rates.

• Participation in the Annual Fund is the sole measurement of alumnae satisfaction with their college used by the outside world and rating agencies, such as U.S. News and World Report.
• Corporations and foundations that invest in the College by awarding research grants and funding for campus projects examine participation rates before choosing to support Bryn Mawr.
• A devoted Senior Gift effort encourages other alumnae to give back; it shows that current Bryn Mawr students continue to be as engaged and as passionate as those who came before.