Development Update
Message from Patrick D. Kellogg, Chief Development Officer
Greetings! Joining Trinity as the new Chief Development Officer in February 2020, I was heartened to witness the amazing generosity of so many alumnae, alumni, friends, families and others who supported the university in 2019-2020. Trinity received truly extraordinary contributions in 2019-2020 for student scholarships, faculty, programs, capital needs, and most importantly, discretionary funding for unanticipated emergency pandemic related relief. These many “gifts of sacrifice,” and not just gifts of mere convenience, helped Trinity navigate very unsteady waters.
As a relative newcomer to Trinity, I can now testify to the altruism, resilience, optimism, and faithfulness among the Trinity family! Please know I am honored to have joined the Trinity family and look forward to doing my part to encourage private support for the university’s many needs and priorities.
I am further honored to report that the 2019-2020 Trinity Annual Fund surpassed its goal for unrestricted support – topping more than $1 million for the most pressing needs of students, faculty, and programs at Trinity. Overall, private support increased over last year and totaled more than $5.3 million in fiscal 2019-2020 – funding myriad institutional priorities. This is a real tribute to everyone who gave in fiscal 2019-2020, no matter the level of your gift! Last year, Trinity donors gave to the following:
- Student Scholarships: Trinity donors provided on-going support for student tuition needs. Scholarship funding is one of Trinity’s most pressing institutional priorities as the median family income for full-time undergraduates is just about $25,000 annually. Most students at Trinity are the first in their family to attend college. Ongoing scholarship funding from donors is essential to Trinity’s ability to offer an exceptional educational experience and remain accessible and affordable to our students.
- Completion Mini-Grants: For their 50th Reunion gift, the Class of 1969 created “69 to the Finish Line” to provide mini-grants to juniors and seniors in need of additional financial support as they near graduation. Student needs were particularly acute in Spring 2020 as a result of the pandemic, and the Class of 1969 fund provided assistance to 30 seniors who were able to graduate on time thanks to these grants.
- Emergency Student Grants: Generous benefactors also provided significant gifts to help students who needed emergency help for expenses like rent, food, transportation, books and materials. A grant of $500-$1000 goes a long way to help keep students in school and on track to completion while reducing financial stress.
- Faculty Development: In response to the sudden need for instructional and curricular changes caused by the pandemic, Trinity donors provided support to enable purchases of new software and hardware required for online learning environments. Trinity faculty and students hardly skipped a beat despite the sudden and dramatic transition from in-class settings to online and other instructional modalities last March. Thanks to Trinity donors, the faculty have continued to answer the call and are fully prepared for hybrid, on-line and in-class learning environments in the fall semester.
- 50th Reunion Class Gift Funds: The importance of 50th Reunion Class Gifts at Trinity cannot be overstated, as the example of the Class of 1969 fund illustrates. Trinity Classes have given back for decades and clearly the excitement of celebrating a 50th reunion engenders an extraordinarily generous response from many classmates.
- The Class of 1970 has raised more than $200,000 (and counting) designated for aspiring nurses in the Trinity School of Nursing and Health Professions. Nursing is on the rise at Trinity and thanks to these critical funds our nurses can finish their degrees, pass their professional exams, and enter the work force during a time of great need for fully qualified front line health care professionals.
- The Class of 1971 is off to a fast start in 2020 and will be seeking maximum class participation for their 50th Reunion Gift effort.
I’ve enjoyed meeting Trinity alumnae and alumni virtually these past few months and I look forward to meeting you in person at the appropriate time. I am always eager to hear from you. Please feel free to contact me: 202-884-9721 or email kelloggP@trinitydc.edu. Thank you for your continued support.
Notre Dame Chapel
We are thrilled to announce the completion of the Goubeau Challenge supporting more than $1 million in capital improvements to Notre Dame Chapel, including air conditioning and a new sound system and wi-fi upgrades. These improvements will eventually allow our iconic Chapel to be accessible all year round for liturgical services.