24th Alumni Fund Campaign

With Major Credit for Success Last Year to the Class Agents and Their Assistants

THE Dartmouth College Alumni Fund on the Tucker Foundation is raised annually as a contribution of the whole body of alumni under the direction of a committee of the Alumni Council. An organization of class agents, several of whom have carried on this effort during 24 years of the Fund's existence, undertake the assignment of contacting their classmates.

The accomplishment of these agents is the net accomplishment of the Fund, and to the loyal and unselfish efforts of this group, the Alumni Fund Committee pays sincere tribute.

1938 represented the fifth consecutive year in which gains have been made over preceding years.

One objective of the campaign is the broadest possible participation by Dartmouth men. The number of contributors, 8,78 a, is the highest in the history of the Fund. The percentage of contribution to living graduates, 76%, exceeds the previous record of 73% in 1926 and 1927. Since those years the alumni body has grown over 60% in size.

The 1938 Fund objective was set at $llO,OOO. The 1938 realization was 99% of the objective—sloB,6BB.ol.

The expense of solicitation maintains an even relationship to the amount collected. Figures supplied by other leading alumni funds show our proportion of expense to amount collected well down in the lower ranges.

This year, for the first time, the Robert Fletcher Fund of the Thayer School was consolidated with the Alumni Fund. The allotment of $2,400 to the Thayer School is based on the previous proportion of total gifts of Thayer School alumni to the Fletcher Fund as compared with their total past gifts to the Alumni Fund.

In 1938, the Class of 1913, at their 25th Reunion, initiated a Memorial Fund, the income from which will go to the Alumni Fund. By arrangement with the Class, realization in excess of objective was used as a basis for starting this Memorial Fund. It is hoped that this Memorial Fund may be increased by special gifts and bequests. Other classes, notably 1914, 1915 and are planning to establish similar Memorial Funds at their 25th reunions.

From the Fund, $73,601.38 was applied to cover what otherwise would have been an operating deficit of /the College for the year. The balance, $25,163.07 was, as had been the practice for the three previous years, applied to the reduction of the Dartmouth Hall Reconstruction account. The total contributed for this purpose now amounts to $71,324.27.

During the campaign, 29 classes equalled or exceeded their objectives, as compared to 28 classes in 1937. Ten classes showed a percentage figure over 100% on the proportion of contributors to living graduates. The three new members of this group were the classes of 1921, 1913 and 1928.

The historic class of '79 again lead all classes in percent of objective and of contributors.

'79 also leads all classes in amount contributed to the College through the 24 years of the Fund with a total of $82,000. 1911 with $76,355.61 is in second place, and 1900 with $68,358.66 is third.

The mythical "Green Derbys" criterion of all-round Fund achievement was won again by 1901 in Group I (classes 1898- 1909). The Group II winner (classes 1910- 1922) was 1913, nosing out 1921, last year's winner in a close race. In Group 111 (classes 1923-37) 1926 repeats for the second time.

That splendid class of 1911 is beginning to face serious competition for its yearly record in amount of money contributed. 'll held first place in the 1938 campaign with $4,284.50, but was pressed by 1913 with $4,015.75, closely followed by 1926 and 1914 in third and fourth places. In number of contributors, '2B leads with an all time record of 446. '26 is second with 359, and '3l third with 353.

On the basis of improvement over last year, five of the older classes, 'B3, '7B, 'B4, 'BO and 'B6 fill out the first five places in this ranking.

One of the most encouraging features of the 1938 campaign was the splendid organization and effort of the younger classes, where the size of the classes complicates the task of contacting individual members. The class of '32 deserves special mention for the gains made, with '35, '29, '26, '2l and '34 all showing notably im- proved performances.

A bow, too, to the baby class of 1937, with 62% of contributors and 75% of objective—the best record for a first year class in the recent history of the Fund.

The report would not be complete without special praise to 'Ol which has added to remarkable past achievements by a noteworthy performance of 137 per cent of contributors and 175 per cent of objective.

Any attempt to mention, by name, the class agents who have done noteworthy work would include the whole roster. Dartmouth can well be proud that she can enlist the voluntary services of such a loyal and capable group. And proud, too, of the interest in and affection for the College that prompts this yearly tribute from so many of its alumni.

In conclusion, the members of the 1938 Alumni Fund Committee feel that a report would be incomplete without an acknowledgment of the energy, effort, skill and resourcefulness applied to his task by Albert I. Dickerson '3O, Executive Secretary of the Committee.

SIGURD S. LARMON 'l4, Chairman.

The Alumni Fund Comtnittee of theAlumni Council:

Executive Secretary.

SIGURD S. LARMON 'l4 Retiring chairman of the 1938 AlumniFund Committee.