Alumni Fund

THE REPORT OF THE 1940 Alumni Fund through May 17 showed contributions of $51,107.93 from 3,297 alumni. These totals represented a gain of 135 or 4% over the number of contributors on May 17 last year, and of $3,800 60 or 8% in the amount contributed. The average gift at that point in the campaign was $15.50 compared with $14.96 at the same time last year.

One of the heaviest early-campaign responses in the history of the Fund followed the message of President Hopkins which was distributed as the opening mailing piece of the Fund Committee. From now until the 1940 Alumni Fund closes on June 30 the impetus as well as the direction of the Fund-raising will come from the agents and assistants in the respective classes. The objectives of the 1940 Fund are $115,000 and 10,000 contributors. The latter figure, representing over 80% of the graduates of the College, would give Dartmouth not only an all-time record for percentage of givers but also the greatest total of contributors to any alumni fund in the country. Last year the Dartmouth Alumni Fund had 9,453 contributors, representing a proportion of givers to graduates of 79%, and also achieved 104% of its objective of $110,000 with total gifts of $114,709.64.

Among the encouraging figures on the 1940 Fund to date are 209 gifts from alumni who did not contribute last year and 59 gifts from men who had never contributed before, not counting the new class. Increased contributions have been made this year by 618 men, while only 197 have been forced to send lesser amounts than last year. The net gain of new gifts and increases minus decreases was $3,010.40.

Two classes on May 17 had achieved 100% of contributors. They were 1900 with a proportion of givers to graduates of 141% and 1878 with a similar proportion of 100%. Other classes within the first ten in this respect were 1879 with 80%, 1890 with 67%, 1901 with 65%, 1884 with 63%, 1877 with 60%, 1886 with 59%, 1898 with 57%, and 1880 with 56%.

Twelve classes on May 17 had surpassed their cash objectives. They were headed by 1879 with 1500% and 1881 with 1471%. Others with excellent showings in the amount contributed were 1884 with 267%, 1887 with 252%, 1878 with 213%, 1889 with 197%, 1890 with 183%, 1901 with 165%, 1888 with 145%, 1900 with 138%, 1880 with 119%, and 1886 with 106%.

The greatest cash total up to May 17 had been contributed by 1926 with $2,891.00. Other leaders were 1901 with $2,477.00, 1930 with $2,063.31, 1912 with $1,954.50, and 1918 with $1,848.50.