Note: This page covers Smith Fund giving. To learn about Planned Giving, see the Planned Giving page.
From your Fund Team Chair, Gwen Mattleman:
THE IMPORTANCE OF SMITH FUND GIVING
Ready to give? Click here.
With music and pageantry, national leaders honored Smith and its new President. On October 21, 2023, many of us attended the joyful and moving inauguration of Smith’s new President, Sarah Willie-LeBreton, in person and online. Heads of major academic institutions joined past presidents of the College, political voices including Senator Elizabeth Warren, and other leaders from around the country to honor Smith and our new President during the ceremony. It’s an important and hopeful time at Smith, and a great time for you to make a Smith Fund gift. Follow these links to learn more:
Interesting Facts Smith Fund and its Designation Options Matching Gifts or Challenges How to Give Other Ways You Can Help
DID YOU KNOW?
- Smith has eliminated loans from its undergraduate financial aid packages for students receiving institutional need-based aid, replacing those funds with institutional grants. The college will meet the full documented need, as determined by college policy, of all admitted students who apply for aid by the published deadlines.
- Applications for the Class of 2027 were up over 36% from the previous year, with Smith’s largest applicant pool, including record numbers of students of color, 1st-gen college students, international students, and applicants from outside the northeast U.S.
- 2/3 of Smithies rely on financial aid. Smith Fund gifts provide critical support for the College’s annual operating expenses, including scholarship aid.
- Milestone Reunion classes normally are given a substantial Smith Fund goal, a cumulative giving from all sources goal, and a participation goal. Even if you normally make non-Smith Fund gifts to your own or another endowed/restricted fund (such as Friends of the Libraries), for our 50th Reunion Cycle, please plan your giving to Smith to include Smith Fund gift(s), as well.
Smith Fund Giving Options — Please make your gift now. Give to the general Smith Fund without designation, or designate your Smith Fund gift to a specific Smith Fund use (details here). Here are some examples to explore:
Undesignated
- Smith Fund General (undesignated): used where most is needed
Designation Examples:
- General Scholarship Aid Fund: aid for all categories of students (domestic, international, traditional-aged, Ada Comstock students)
- Student Life Fund: campus activities (e.g., clubs, athletics, student government)
- Equity Inclusion Fund: initiatives that engage, connect, and embrace underrepresented students
- Career Services: career advising, internship and fellowship placement, workshops, and events
- Faculty Support: Faculty compensation
- Curricular Support: academic programs, faculty resources, guest lectures, faculty-led field trips and hands-on experiences
- Sustainability Fund: campus-wide green practices
- Study Away Fund: student study away from campus
- Facilities Fund: maintenance of houses, academic and administrative buildings and grounds
If you have questions about Smith Fund designations, please contact Jodi Fallon Fern, Director of Milestone Reunion Program at 413-585-4407 or jfallonfern@smith.edu
WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
- Check to see if your employer will match your gift! Scroll down to the “Match Your Gift” section here and use the window to check.
- IMPORTANT: Offer a Match or Challenge on your own or with a few friends! Contact the Fund Chair for more information.
- Consider making a Smith Fund gift in memory of a classmate, or in honor of a special friend. See the In Memoriam page to access our class necrology.
HOW TO GIVE
Online: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/14740/donations/new
- Option to give in honor/memory of a classmate or other special person
- Has pulldown menu with designations of both Smith Fund and non-Smith Fund recipients
- To give to the Smith Fund, be careful to choose one of the Smith Fund designations listed on the main website at https://www.smith.edu/give-smith/smith-fund from the pulldown menu.
- You also can choose BOTH a Smith Fund and a non-Smith Fund designation and allocate specific amounts to each, e.g., $$ to General Scholarship Aid (Smith Fund) and $$ to the Emergency Fund for Students of Color (non-Smith Fund endowed fund).
By Mail: Make checks to Smith College. Note gift restrictions in the memo line or in accompanying note. Send to Smith College Gift Accounting, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063
By Phone: Call 800-526-2023 or 413-585-2036 (credit card gifts)
Gifts of Securities, Donor-Advised Fund, and other ways to give: https://www.smith.edu/giving or contact the Gifts and Records staff at giftaccounting@smith.edu 800-526-2023 (opt. 2), or 413-585-2036.
DONE! I’M A DONOR AND BOOSTED OUR TOTALS AND PARTICIPATION (YAY!!!!) NOW WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO HELP REACH OUR CLASS GOALS?
- Remind friends and housemates to make their annual Smith Fund gift.
- Offer a match or challenge individually or with one or two friends.
- Volunteer to help increase class giving participation.