More than $10.6 million was raised through gifts and commitments from more than 4,500 donors, according to figures available six weeks before the fiscal year ended June 30. These gifts include 23 new scholarships, many of which will be the unrestricted, need-based scholarships that are a high priority.
“Every gift, regardless of the size, absolutely makes a difference,” said Courtney Hodges, vice president for institutional advancement. “Alumni giving helps ensure the continued excellence of the Longwood experience. It also sends a message to the world about the value of a Longwood degree.”
Increasing the percentage of alumni who give is the primary focus of Longwood development officers. The alumni participation rate — rather than the size of gifts — is often reviewed by prospective students as a measure of alumni satisfaction in their college experience at Longwood, said Hodges.
“A $10 gift moves the needle just as much as a $10,000 contribution,” she said, adding that it takes only 290 alumni gifts to increase the participation rate by 1 percent. Alums and others who “remember Longwood year after year” are critical to fundraising efforts, said Hodges. Some 721 donors, of whom 610 are alumni, have at least 16 consecutive years of giving. “We are most proud of our most loyal donors,” Hodges said.
“All of these gifts open doors and change lives every day. Our donors are to be applauded.”
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