Oberlin Every Year Donor Recognition

Class Agent letters are dropping into mailboxes across the country, just like the leaves littering Tappan Square. By now, most of you should have received a copy of the letter and may have noticed the Every Year Giver List on the second page. This list is designed to recognize the continued support of our alumni and to show our appreciation for their contributions, reinforcing both the College and Conservatory’s position that every gift counts – no matter the amount.

“Every Year Givers” are defined, for the majority of alumni class years, as donors that have given to Oberlin College for five consecutive fiscal years. Alumni that graduated between 1997 and 2004, however, are considered Every Year Givers if they gave to the Oberlin Alumni Fund for three consecutive fiscal years. New alumni – those graduating between 2004 and 2008 – received recognition in the fall letter if they made a gift to Oberlin in 2007-2008.

Oberlin’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. The Oberlin Alumni Fund may only count gifts made during the fiscal year – not during the calendar year. This is done for two reasons: 1) The fiscal year is Oberlin’s business year for accounting purposes and 2) The money Oberlin receives is distributed for use during the fiscal year.

Oberlin is not unique in that it counts gifts made during the fiscal year. This is a common practice in higher education, and is one of the ways in which alumni donor participation is gauged by such publications as U.S. News & World Report. To better understand how media outlets “count” alumni participation, here’s an example: It takes approximately six alumni from any given class to raise that group’s participation rate by one percentage point. So if six alumni from the same class are giving to Oberlin during the calendar year (rather than the fiscal year), it lowers the group’s alumni participation rate for that year, as well as the College’s overall annual ranking.

Every Year Givers are also determined by the types of gifts they have given to Oberlin College. All gifts given to the Oberlin Alumni Fund must be tangible and distributed during the same year they are received. Planned gifts, such as bequests, cannot be added to the Oberlin Alumni Fund’s annual gift totals. If a donor has arranged a planned gift to be dispersed at a later date, it is important to still make a gift to the Oberlin Alumni Fund during the same fiscal year to ensure that class participation remains strong.

Although annual giving totals are used to measure Oberlin’s standing in comparison to other peer institutions, annual giving means so much more than that. All gifts made to the Oberlin Alumni Fund are used to enhance the Oberlin experience. This is accomplished by using money from the Fund to provide direct financial support or instructional materials for students and faculty members. These gifts make an Oberlin education better by ensuring quality teaching with the latest resources, innovative research, and access to financial aid that allow Oberlin to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need for all students.

Each year more than 13,000 alumni, friends and family make the crucial difference for Oberlin students with their gifts to the Oberlin Alumni Fund. Please join them and become an Every Year Giver today!

For more information about The Oberlin Alumni Fund, contact the Development Office at 1-800-693-3167 or giving@oberlin.edu.