THE 1956 ALUMNI FUND

Chairman's Report

$864,230 from 20,106 alumni, parents and friends...both new Dartmouth records. 70.9% alumni participation percentage... a national and Dartmouth record.

THE BREADTH of accomplishments by Dartmouth classes during the exciting 1956 Alumni Fund campaign amply justifies the oft-repeated conclusion that this was "Dartmouth's greatest year." The record books were completely rewritten by the largest team of agents in Fund history. New highs were achieved in almost every category when the final results were tabulated.

HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS:

A record dollar total of $864,230 was contributed. This is the largest total in the 42-year history of the Fund and nearly $90,000 over the $774,860 received in 1955. Altogether there were 20,106 gifts, another record, and 934 more than the previous campaign.

With an amazing 70.9% alumni participation figure Dartmouth became the number one college in the nation in percentage of alumni participating in an annual fund effort, shattering all Dartmouth records as well. This was made possible only by an exciting surge in the closing weeks after we had lagged behind the 1955 pace in the early stages of the campaign. A total of 17,831 alumni, 630 more than the previous year, contributed in 1956 to make the participation record possible.

Not to be outdone, the Dartmouth parents led by Michael L. Adley of New Haven, Connecticut, achieved new parent records with 1,289 parents contributing $55,795 to join with the alumni in support of the Fund. The contributor total was 240 more than the previous year and was believed to be a record for parent gifts at any college or university in the nation.

Memorial Gifts by friends, widows and relatives of deceased alumni have always played an important part in Dartmouth's annual giving and 1956 was no exception. Nearly 1,000 gifts in honor of deceased alumni were received for a new dollar and contributor record in this important area of Alumni Fund strength.

In recent years corporate giving to the Alumni Fund also has risen significantly. In part this is due to the fact that a number of closely held firms have chosen to make corporate gifts and thereby supplement the personal giving of the owners. In addition, a number of firms have adopted the plan of matching the gifts of their personnel to their respective colleges. Combining both groups, corporate giving to the 1956 Alumni Fund totalled $12,994. The firms who contributed in 1956 are listed in a separate section of the December Alumni Magazine.

FUND ALLOCATION

The marvelous results of the 1956 Alumni Fund brought strength to Dartmouth well beyond the $660,000 earmarked for current College operating expenses. The Trustees were able to appropriate $35,000 to establish a reserve to supplement the income from the first installment of the Ford Foundation Grant for faculty salaries thus enabling the College to give urgently needed faculty salary increases on the basis of the entire amount of the Ford Grant. Another $25,000 was utilized to establish an Alumni Fund Loan Fund, continuing the Fund's assistance in the important area of financial aid. Finally, the Trustees appropriated the almost $80,000 balance for urgent plant improvements already scheduled, but for which funds had not been previously available.

CLASS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The 1956 Fund results were possible only because of a mighty team effort by all Dartmouth classes. Final honors were shared by many classes, and there were an equal number of "unsung heroes" who, although finishing off the pace as compared with some of the leaders, nevertheless made tremendous progress during the year.

Of the classes from 1906-1955, 39 exceeded their assigned dollar objectives and only two classes showed a decrease in their dollar totals as compared with 1955. It was particularly heartwarming to see the response of the older classes who, faced as they are with smaller numbers and retirements, nevertheless as a group, gave more generously than ever before. The tremendous accomplishment of Ned Redman of the 50-year class of 1906 was but one example.

The leading class in dollar giving and winner of the new Jack Davis Trophy was Ford Whelden of the Class of 1925 with a total of $33,850, the largest amount ever contributed by a Dartmouth class. Only a few years ago $20,000 was the magic figure, yet in the 1956 campaign the classes of 1926 and 1924, led by Andy O'Connor and Phil Van Huyck, also exceeded $30,000, a figure which has never been reached by any Dartmouth class prior to this year.

Great credit must also go to certain class leaders like John Moxon '29, Herm Schnepel '28, Jack Dodd '22, and Jim Gregg '14, whose classes chalked up sizeable dollar increases over 1955. They helped dispel once and for all the theory that there is such a thing as a "poor class." They proved that under imaginative and united class officers any Dartmouth class can, in the long run, be brought to a level with its contemporaries.

PARTICIPATION

Dartmouth's national participation achievement of 70.9% was due largely to the 23 classes which set new contributor records. Furthermore, only 14 classes fell below their 1955 total

in contributors. John Corcoran of the Class of 1953 had a magnificent increase of 104 gifts over 1955, while Herm Schnepel '28, Bob Snedaker '47 and Jack Whitman '46 all increased by more than 30 contributors. Jack Whitman brought in 566 gifts from the Class of 1946, a new class all-time high, while 34 classes combined to produce 602 more gifts than they had in 1955.

Had some 1,353 alumni who contributed to the 1955 campaign, but did not give in 1956, contributed to this campaign, our alumni participation percentage would have risen to 76%, a figure for Dartmouth alumni to challenge in the 1957 campaign.

IN CONCLUSION

I very much hope that you will take a few minutes to study the tables and other material in this report. They tell the story of Dartmouth alumni, parents and friends - their generosity and devotion to the perpetuation of this living endowment. Over 2,000 alumni worked untold hours to make our magnificent 1956 results possible - and to them as well as to the 20,106 alumni, parents and friends who gave so generously - Dartmouth will ever be grateful.

The 1957 Alumni Fund campaign will soon be with us. Another fine team of agents is being organized. Many head agents will be leading their first campaigns, but they will be backed up by a hard core of veteran agents.

In 1956 we reached $864,000, an increase of $90,000 over the previous year. We are for the first time within striking distance of one-milliondollars. Will it be in 1957? Time alone will provide the answer. Certainly we know that if our leading classes continue to set the inspired pace of recent years and the other classes respond to their challenge, the "magic million" can become a reality.

1956 ALUMNI FUND STATEMENT 83% ALUMNI 6% PARENTS 4% OTHERS MEMORIAL FUNDS | RECEIPTS: 17,832 Alumni Contributions $708,527 1,298 Parent Contributions 55,795 976 Memorial and Other Gifts 38,260 Memorial Fund Income 61,648 20,106 $864,230 APPLIED TO: College Current Operating Expenses $660,000 Faculty Salary Reserve (to match the income from the first installment of the Ford Foundation Grant) 35,000 Alumni Fund Loan Fund (to establish) 25,000 Reserve to meet urgent plant needs 79,813 Campaign Expenses 64,417 $864,230 76% OPERATING EXPENSES 4% SALARY RESERVE 3% LOAN FUND 9% PLANT RESERVE 8% CAMPAIGN COSTS

The Alumni Fund Scholarship roster is complete this year with an Alumni Fund Scholar in each class. Shown with President Dickey are(left-to-right): Arthur R. Johnson '57, Charles S. Eytel '59, Robert W. ten Bensel '58, and the freshman member, A. Wayne Givens '60.

DARTMOUTH ALUMNI FUND COMMITTEE FOR1956 (left-to-right) : Roger C. Wilde '21, Charles G. Bolte'41, Chairman William G. Morton '28, Carleton G. Broer'27 and Ellsworth B. Buck '14.

The names of alumni contributors to the 1956 AlumniFund are listed with their respective classes in theclass-notes section of the December issue of the AlumniMagazine.