Reunion Gifts

Yale College classes of 1877 and 1892 made the first reunion gifts to the University. Not to be outdone, other classes soon took up the challenge. Today, the tradition of reunion giving inspires some alumni to make significant capital commitments (Impact of Giving) beyond regular Alumni Fund gifts, strengthens alumni participation in giving, and encourages ongoing annual giving. Reunion campaigns account for a significant portion of cash received by the University each year, providing essential endowment and current use support.

What does the reunion gift recognize?

Reunions are a time to recognize not just new gifts made during the reunion campaign, but all classmates' contributions over a five-year period.

The combined reunion total includes all new gifts and gift intentions (pledges) made to most areas of the University since the last reunion: current use Alumni Fund contributions; capital gifts for special purposes; Quarter Century Fund (Class of 1996 and earlier) and Half Century Fund gifts and investment returns; and gifts from widows and friends of classmates.

Types of contributions to Yale may include the following. All but Class Dues are recognized in reunion gift totals.

Alumni Fund Gifts

Yale asks all alumni to make an unrestricted annual gift to the Alumni Fund every year. Such giving to Yale through the Alumni Fund's annual appeal provides immediately expendable, core support for the University's basic operations. Strong participation in giving enhances Yale's stature, serving as an important measure of alumni attitudes toward the University.

Class Dues

Class dues fund the class's activities and communications and pay for the class's subscription to the Yale Alumni Magazine.

Quarter-Century Fund/Half-Century Fund

Gifts to the Quarter-Century Funds (Class of 1996 and earlier) and Half-Century Funds are contributions made in anticipation of the Yale College 25th and 50th class reunions. Contributions are invested as part of the Yale Endowment. All contributions and interest income are credited to these major reunions' gift totals.

Association Gifts

Organizations with which you were involved as a student often solicit alumni for contributions. Examples include the Football Y Association and the Glee Club. These gifts help organizations fund their activities.

Other Special Appeals

From time to time, Professional Schools, classes, residential colleges, associations, and other groups will organize special appeals for a particular purpose. Sometimes, the gifts collected establish a fund in memory or honor of a well-loved fellow graduate or a prominent University figure. The restricted nature of such appeals distinguishes them from annual gifts.

Graduates with More Than One Yale Degree or Affiliation

Those who hold degrees from the Graduate School and/or the Professional Schools in addition to their Yale College degrees may receive solicitations for annual and special campaign or reunion gifts from each of the constituencies with which they were affiliated.

NOTE: Planned gifts provide an opportunity for donors to structure long-term deferred gifts in ways that are beneficial both to the donor and to Yale. For more information, see Planned Gifts.

For information on gift purposes, see Impact of Giving.
For more information about Reunion Gifts, contact:

Yale University
Office of Development
P.O. Box 2038
New Haven, CT 06521-2038
ph: (800) 395-7646
fax: (203) 432-5685
e-mail: reunion.giving@yale.edu