Financial Future Update Summer 2015

This article is part of our ongoing series about Grinnell College’s finances. In fall 2015, the Grinnell College Board of Trustees will vote on whether to continue the College’s need-blind admission policy. The endowment, student revenue, and philanthropy are the College’s main sources of revenue.

Scarlet & Give Back Day Huge Success

Challenges and social media drive strong participation.

A special one-day giving event on March 31 invited all Grinnellians and friends of Grinnell to show their support for the College.

“We wanted to have a fun day and a fun way to energize people about giving. It was important for us to connect people back to the College,” says Mae Turley, director of annual giving.

About noon that day, Daniel ’77 and Patricia Jipp Finkelman ’80 issued a giving challenge. For each new donor that day, they donated a $250 match.

“Thanks to Dan and Patricia, it started picking up steam in the afternoon,” Turley says.

The challenge was posted on social media and promoted on Everyday Classnotes, a private Facebook group of Grinnell alumni.

Near 5 p.m. CDT, the Finkelmans issued a new challenge and upped their match to $500 per donor.

“It was an incredible day for Grinnellians. We connected with new donors and strengthened ties with all of our supporters,” Turley says.

Alumni Giving by Decade