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2013
Dear Parents’ Fund Committee Volunteer,
hank you for agreeing to step forward and be part of a generous group of parents who consistently demonstrate dedication to Middlebury. Time and again, parent volunteers have extended their generosity and their time and energy to garner a critical source of support for Middlebury. Last year, our volunteers helped achieve a remarkable and new record, raising $2.7 million for the College through the Parents’ Fund.As parents of a student in the Class of 2013.5, we feel fortunate in knowing that so many aspects of Middlebury—the curriculum, the interpersonal relationships with professors, and the special bond with Middlebury classmates—are shaping our daughter’s future. When we see the Middlebury experience in action, it is clear to us that we are getting so much more from Middlebury than it is getting from us. While it is impossible to put a price tag on the value of a Middlebury education, it is an education well worth our investment.
Our work together through the Parents’ Fund program is more important now than ever. Volunteers like you can help build on the momentum of previous years by reaching out to other Middlebury parents to encourage continued support for the students and programs at Middlebury.
We thank you again for your participation and your efforts on Middlebury’s behalf, and we look forward to working together in the year ahead.
Warm regards,
Jenny and Wylie Collins P’13.5
Middlebury Parents’ Fund Committee Co-chairs Parents’ Fund Committee
Through regular communication with other volunteer leaders and the Parent Giving staff, the Parents’ Fund Committee takes an active role in ensuring that Middlebury meets its Parents’ Fund goals and commitments. Co-chairs
Jenny and Wylie Collins P’13.5 Parent Giving Staff
Janie C. Young
Director of Parent Giving 802.443.5987
jyoung@middlebury.edu
Heidi T. Webb
Associate Director of Parent Giving 802.443.2888
hwebb@middlebury.edu Dana Livingston
Leadership Gifts Associate for Parents 802.443.5184
danal@middlebury.edu
Office of Parent Giving College Advancement Middlebury College
Middlebury, Vermont 05753
parentsagentsinaction@middlebury.edu
Notes
PreparenPlease make your own gift or pledge
before contacting your assignments. You will be more compelling when you
ask other parents to join you in making a gift to Middlebury.
nReview your parent assignments. Have
they been consistent givers? Is this their first year as a Midd parent? Are they assigned to a coordinator?
nStay informed. The more you know
about the Parents’ Fund and the College, the easier your job will be. Check the box below for some helpful links.
Make Contact
nIdentify yourself. You may choose
a phone call or an introductory letter or e-mail. Make it clear that you are a fellow parent working as a volunteer for Middlebury. If you have written, be sure to state that you will follow up.
nFind common ground. What do your
parents appreciate the most about their student’s Middlebury experience? Ask them to consider a gift to the Parents’ Fund in honor of their student.
nInform them of the Parents’ Fund goal:
$2.25 million in fy’13.
nMake the “ask.” The College may
pro-vide you with a suggested “ask amount” for each individual, based on the parent’s previous giving history.
nParticipation matters. Let parents
know that their gifts truly matter to the College—regardless of the size.
nAsk about a matching gift. Often,
companies will match their employees’ charitable gifts, doubling or even tripling the size of the donation.
Follow Up
nMake the connection. If you have sent
an introductory e-mail or letter, follow up with a call or another e-mail.
nPlease confirm mailing address,
tele-phone numbers, and e-mail addresses and pass along any changes to the Parent Giving office through PIA at middle-buryparentsfund@middlebury.edu or
802.443.5184.
nThe parents on your list are your
assignments for the year. If your par-ents have questions about their gifts or Middlebury in general that you aren’t able to answer, please contact Heidi or Janie. Thank You
nEvery gift deserves a personal thank
you note—ideally a handwritten note. The College will mail a gift acknowl-edgement and receipt to each donor, but your personal touch is the most important.
Steps to a Successful Solicitation
Useful links for parents
www.middlebury.edu/parents
Middlebury Magazine
www.middmag.com
Latest College news
www.middlebury.edu/newsroom
Parents’ Fund website
www.middlebury.edu/giving/priorities/ parents
The Campus, the student newspaper
www.middleburycampus.com
President Liebowitz’s blog
go.middlebury.edu/rononmidd
Dean of the College’s blog
go.middlebury.edu/onedeansview
MiddBlog, a student blog
www.middblog.com
Facebook (search for Middlebury Parents)
www.facebook.com
Middlebury videos on YouTube
www.youtube.com/user/ middcommunications
Redefining Liberal Arts in the 21st Century
Middlebury combines an intense, personal education with a global perspective and an international network found nowhere else. The College offers abundant opportunities for students to develop cultural fluency and the tools needed to solve complex problems. With a focus on the environment, international education, and experiential learn-ing, Middlebury prepares students to enter the global marketplace, to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges, and to recognize and develop new opportunities wherever they go. To support this vision, we are focusing on the following priorities.
Fundraising Priorities
THE PARENTS’ FUND nThe Parents’
Fund supports every student, professor, program, and department on campus. Unrestricted gifts to the Parents’ Fund can be used for any of the College’s cur-rent priorities, providing the flexibility to respond rapidly to changing circum-stances and to take advantage of unex-pected opportunities. Such gifts enhance a Middlebury education in innumerable ways, enabling the College to do more for each student than it could possibly do if it were funded by the comprehensive fee alone.
FACULTY SUPPORT nPersonalized
teaching and mentoring relationships between faculty and students are at the heart of a Middlebury education. The College’s low student-faculty ratio (currently 9 to 1) ensures small classes, excellent advising, and meaningful opportunities for students to collabo-rate with faculty on research and other projects. Support from parents helps the College to maintain this level of faculty-student involvement and to remain responsive to evolving fields of study by recruiting and retaining top scholars. Funds are also needed to support research and curriculum development and to honor faculty achievement.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING n
Middlebury students must be prepared to engage the world in all of its complex-ity, which means they have to be able
to apply their knowledge to real-world problems. They need opportuni-ties outside the classroom to develop and practice their abilities to collect and synthesize information, analyze complex problems, and communicate clearly. Such opportunities can be found through internships, volunteer activities, undergraduate research, or self-directed projects. Gifts support a number of programs and centers dedicated to expe-riential learning, including Education in Action, the Middlebury Center for Social Entrepreneurship, MiddCORE, and the Project on Creativity and Innovation.
FINANCIAL AID nStudents are teachers,
too; they learn from one another. To pre-pare them for an increasingly complicated and interconnected world, Middlebury needs a student body that is economically, ethnically, culturally, and intellectu-ally diverse. Financial aid enables the College to draw top scholars from all backgrounds, from every state, and from around the world. Funding scholarships to achieve this goal is Middlebury’s top priority.
Questions Parents May Ask What is the “Middlebury Experience”?
Every day, Middlebury takes students somewhere new—to the core of an issue, to the frontiers of science, to a new sense of strength and purpose. Their Middlebury years guide our graduates throughout their lives, imparting clarity, confidence, and an expansive worldview.
Class of 2016 by the numbers Students in the class come from 44 states
and 50 other countries.
8,847
TOTAL APPLICANTS1,696
TOTAL ADmITTED19%
APPLICANTS ADmITTED690
ADmITTED CLASS SIzE (TARGET)
21%
U.S. STUDENTS OF COLOR
11%
FOREIGN NATIONALS
12%
FIRST GENERATION OF FAmILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE
5%
FROm VERmONT
1940–2210
COmbINED SAT I (mID 50% RANGE)
$36,198
AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID GRANT AwARD
Parent Giving at middlebury
Middlebury’s Annual Budget 2012–13
$246,000,000
HIDDEN SCHOLARSHIP FOR EVERY STUDENT$26,430
COmPREHENSIVE FEE$55,570
COST PER STUDENT (APPROXImATE)
What does it cost to educate a Middlebury student?
The true cost of educating each
Middlebury student this year is $82,000 or about 32 percent more than the com-prehensive fee. Endowment earnings and gifts make up the difference of $26,430. The College and its generous donors pay more than one-third of the full cost of a Middlebury education for every student, every year.
What is Middlebury doing to keep the comprehensive fee down?
President Ronald D. Liebowitz and the Board of Trustees have adopted a con-servative financial-planning model that includes a commitment to keep future increases in the comprehensive fee to within one percentage point of the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index.
Middlebury’s other entities—Language Schools, Schools Abroad, Bread Loaf programs, and the Monterey Institute of International Studies—contribute to the College’s overall bottom line. President Liebowitz is also exploring additional revenue sources, such as Middlebury Interactive Languages, a for-profit venture that develops online
language-learning courses for secondary school students.
I’m already paying the comprehensive fee. Why should I support the Parents’ Fund?
Every Middlebury program benefits from Parents’ Fund support. Parents and alumni provide 8 percent of each year’s operating budget, and last year parents contributed more than $2.7 million Academic pro-grams, athletic teams, interest-based clubs, study-abroad programs, and social oppor-tunities—all are supported in part by gifts to the Parents’ Fund.
Why is participation important?
When we calculate the rate of parent giving (i.e., parent participation), all gifts are equal, whether $10 or $10,000. Participation is widely viewed as a measure of approval of the institution. Outside organizations, including founda-tions, view participation as one measure of the overall strength of the institution. When parents make a gift to the College,
they demonstrate their belief in the power and significance of a Middlebury educa-tion.
I can only afford a small gift—does it really matter to Middlebury?
A resounding yes! Last year, gifts of $100 or less from parents and alumni totaled $544,574!
How are gifts to the Parents’ Fund used?
They support exceptional professors; financial aid; student research in the arts, humanities, and sciences; and student activities for every interest. In short, they contribute to the entire Middlebury experience.
Why should I give to Middlebury, when there are so many other deserving causes?
A gift to Middlebury is an important investment in the future. A Middlebury education develops leaders and innova-tors with the creativity, discipline, and cultural awareness to meet the challenges of our increasingly complex global society. The College’s programs, students, faculty,
and alumni have a significant impact on the world.
Parents’ Fund Goal
The goal this year is to raise $2.25 million to support our students.
Instruction: Academics and related activities
Financial Aid: Assistance making Middlebury accessible to all students, admitted need-blind Student Services: All aspects of student life, i.e., residential life, health center, athletics, etc. Institutional Support: Staff and services that support the College Maintenance and Operations: Daily upkeep of facilities, grounds, and utilities
Debt Service: Principal and interest payments on outstanding debt Library and Information Services: Computer and information networks, books and periodicals, technical support
Equipment Depreciation/
Renewal and Replacement Reserve: Maintenance and renovation projects
Auxiliaries: College Store, retail food operations, Snow Bowl, golf course, etc.
Contingency and Campaign: Planning for unforeseen expenses and possible adjustments to endowment
Sponsored Activities: Grants and contracts for research and educational purposes Instruction 29% Financial Aid 17% Student Services 12% Contingency and Campaign 1% Auxiliaries 3% Library and Information
Services 6% Equipment and R&R 6% Debt Service 6% Maintenance and Operations 10% Institutional Support 9% Sponsored Activities 1% 2012–2013 Expenses
Parents in Action (PIA)is an online system designed for Middlebury volun-teers to access information about assigned contacts. PIA is updated daily with the most current contact information for your assignments, along with their most recent giving history. You will receive an automatic e-mail notification when one of your assignments makes a gift. If you have questions about PIA, please contact the Parent Giving office at 802.443.5184. For New Users
n Visit go.middlebury.edu/pia.
n Enter your user ID and PIN. Your user
ID is also your 8-digit Middlebury ID
number. Your PIN is the last 6 digits of your ID.
n The first time you visit the website, this
screen will tell you that your PIN has expired. You have not made an error. The system requires you to choose a new secure password. Please reenter the password you used on the first page, then choose a new password and enter it twice.
n At the next prompt, please set a security
question to use in case you forget your PIN. Once you’ve done that, you’re in!
n Click on Web for Advancement and
you should now be on the main page for Parents in Action.
For Returning Users
n Visit go.middlebury.edu/pia.
n Enter your user ID and PIN. Your
user ID is also your 8-digit Middlebury ID number. Your PIN is the 6-digit password you chose during your initial log-in.
n If you’ve forgotten your password, click
Forgot PIN? on the log-in page. You will be asked to answer the security question you set up during your initial log-in. Or you may contact the Parent Giving office, and we can reset your PIN for you.
Parents in Action
Additional Gift Opportunities
Parents interested in supporting special programs at Middlebury may direct their gifts. These gifts count toward the Parents’ Fund goal. Examples of some special gift opportunities include:
GIFTS OF $5,000 OR mORE:
n Education in Action Internships provide support for
undergraduate internships. GIFTS OF $10,000 OR mORE:
n Blue & White Funds provide support for varsity athletic
programs.
n The Green Funds provide support for Middlebury’s
environmental initiatives.
n Designated gifts provide support for MiddCORE,
an experiential program that teaches innovation and entrepreneurship in a mentored environment.
GIFTS OF $25,000 OR mORE:
n Designated expendable gifts support faculty and selected
departmental programs.
n Expendable scholarships bridge gaps in financial aid funds. n Designated expendable gifts provide support for the PTP/
NYC repertory company and other arts programs. For details about these and other opportunities, please contact the Office of Parent Giving by e-mailing middleburyparentsfund@middlebury.edu.
Credit Card Gifts
Donors may use Middlebury’s secure online giving site, go.middlebury.edu/ giveparents, they may call toll-free at 888.FOR.MIDD (367.6433), or they may give credit card information directly to you to pass along to the Parent Giving office. The College accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
Credit card information or checks payable to Middlebury College may be mailed to: Gift Administration
5 Court Street
Middlebury, VT 05753 Recurring Gifts
If a donor wishes to arrange recurring payments from a credit or debit card on a periodic basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.), please direct the parent to go.middlebury. edu/giveparents or contact the Parent Giving office. This is a great way for someone to make a larger commitment to the College by spreading the payments out over time.
Multiyear Pledges
A useful option for someone who would like to make a larger gift is to spread a gift out over several years with a multiyear pledge. If any donors are interested in this option, please contact the Parent Giving office, and we will be happy to follow up with them.
Corporate Matching Gifts Many employers will match gifts to charitable institutions. Donors should
check with their human resources departments to obtain the appropriate paperwork.
Gifts of Securities or Mutual Funds
Gifts of appreciated stock and mutual funds held for more than one year can be made without incurring capital gains tax. In addition, the gift can be declared as a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the securities.
Securities and mutual funds can be transferred electronically. Or stock certificates and valid stock power can be mailed. Interested donors should call 888.FOR.MIDD (367.6433) for more information.
Creative and Flexible Giving Options
Through a variety of gift plans, parents can help ensure the future of Middlebury College while securing their own finances in ways tailored to their age, income and assets, and vision of giving. Their gift can be as simple as including Middlebury in their will or as detailed as creating a trust for their heirs and favorite charities.
Middlebury’s planned giving professionals, Anne McMenamin and Deb Wales, Esq., can talk with parents about their needs and goals and suggest ways to blend family and philanthropic interests. Contact us at 866.496.6433 or giftplanning@middlebury.edu. Visit our website to learn more and to try our online gift calculator at www. middlebury.edu/giving/ways/planning.
ways to make a Gift
Notes
INFORmATION AbOUT THE GIVING SOCIETIES
For parents who would like to support Middlebury at a leadership level, the 1800 Society offers several options.
Founders Associates. . . $1,800–9,999 Old Chapel Fellows. . . . $10,000–24,999 President’s Circle . . . $25,000 and above
Parents’ Fund Committee Timeline
OCTObER 5–7 Fall Family Weekend OCTObER 6
nParents’ Fund Committee annual business breakfast meeting
nOnline PIA volunteer assignments become available
nCommittee members begin outreach
nParents’ Fund Committee co-chair appeal letter is mailed to parents
OCTObER 19–21 Homecoming NOVEmbER
nParents’ Fund Committee conference call
nMiddlebury calendar and magazine are mailed to parents
DECEmbER
nCalendar year-end postcard appeal is mailed to parents
nMonthly Parents’ Fund Committee e-mail updates begin
nSeason’s Greeting e-mail message to all parents
DECEmbER 31 End of tax year JANUARY
nOptional welcome calls to Feb parents FEbRUARY 2 February Celebration FEbRUARY 6 February Orientation FEbRUARY
nParents’ Fund Committee conference call
mARCH
nParents’ Fund Committee co-chair appeal letter is mailed to parents
APRIL 19
Student Research Symposium mAY
nCommittee members complete last round of calls
nFiscal year-end reminder postcard is mailed to parents
mAY 26 Commencement
Committee members receive preferred seating
JUNE 30
End of Middlebury’s fiscal year JULY
nFinal Parents’ Fund Committee update and report is e-mailed to all volunteers
Please note that as a Parents’ Fund Committee member you will receive all appeals, whether or not you have made a gift to the College. This is to make you aware of the specific timing of appeal mailings and receipt by your assignments.
