University Records Another Strong Fundraising Year

Brandeis enjoyed another strong fundraising cycle in fiscal year 2010, securing $72 million in gifts. It was the fifth consecutive year in which the cash total exceeded $70 million.   

The university also surpassed by 30 percent the target for the all-important Annual Fund, which supports student financial aid and other urgent needs.   

The positive results for the fiscal year that ended June 30 came despite continued economic turbulence around the world and a presidential transition at Brandeis. Jehuda Reinharz, Ph.D.’72, who has served as president since 1994, will step down Dec. 31 and be succeeded by Frederick Lawrence, dean of the George Washington University Law School.   

During fiscal year 2010, Brandeis received seven new commitments of $1 million to $4.25 million, including an anonymous gift from an alumnus of $2 million for undergraduate scholarships. Three significant grants were made for research in the sciences, including $1 million from the W.M. Keck Foundation, $928,000 given anonymously by a foundation, and $870,000 from the Ellison Medical Foundation.

“Once again, Brandeis supporters showed a remarkable commitment to the university at a crucial time in our history,” Reinharz says. “I thank our devoted alumni, friends, trustees, parents and members of the Brandeis National Committee for their generosity.”

The university’s top fundraising priority continues to be securing funds to meet the growing financial-aid needs of Brandeis students. While many peer institutions have reduced the amount of scholarship aid available, Brandeis remains committed to educating the best students.

Fundraising Highlights

Photo of Jehuda Reinharz accepting the senior class gift from Class of 2010
President Jehuda Reinharz, Ph.D.’72, accepts the senior class gift from Class of 2010 gift committee members (from left) Anna Goodbaum, Hannah Siegel, Claire Steinman, Marcel Baker, Rachael Lavi, Yi-Xian Li and Amy Mandel. Committee members not pictured are Daniel Litwok, Saul Levy, Daniel Ortner and Jacqueline Rothschild.

Gifts to the Annual Fund totaled $10.4 million, 30% above the goal of $8 million.

Alumni from the 11 Reunion classes (those with years ending in 5 and 0) made gifts totaling nearly $3 million. The Class of 1975 established a new high for a 35th Reunion ($1.6 million).


More and more Brandeis donors went online to make their gifts. An all-time high of 1,891 donors gave a record $557,274, more than double the online total just three years ago.


The ongoing Campaign for Brandeis has raised $897 million, progressing 73% of the way toward its 
$1.22 billion goal. Brandeis is the country’s youngest private college or university to launch a $1 billion campaign.

Fifty-six percent of the members of the Class of 2010 contributed to the senior class gift. The gift totaled $12,238, the third-largest senior class gift in school history.

Nancy Winship, P’10, P’12
Nancy Winship, P’10, P’12

Admiring the Reinharz Vision

As we look ahead with great anticipation to the upcoming arrival of Frederick Lawrence as Brandeis’ eighth president, we should take this opportunity to reflect on the transformational contributions of his predecessor.

As the first person he hired 16 years ago, I have worked closely with President Jehuda Reinharz, Ph.D.’72, as he has revitalized the Brandeis campus, established world-class centers and institutes, and cemented our place as one of the country’s top private research universities. The quality of our students and faculty has never been higher, and more high school students want to attend Brandeis than ever before.

Upon becoming president in 1994, Jehuda ushered in a new era of philanthropy at Brandeis. He has worked tirelessly to build the fundraising bridges — with alumni, friends, parents, trustees, corporations and foundations, and the Brandeis National Committee — that have turned his vision for Brandeis into reality.

Jehuda pushed us to “think big.” Skeptics wondered whether the $470 million goal for 
the Campaign for Brandeis was too ambitious. We hit that mark a year ahead of schedule 
and extended the target to $770 million. When we reached the new goal 18 months early, Brandeis became the youngest private university ever to launch a billion-dollar campaign ($1.22 billion).

While I will miss working with Jehuda, I look forward to partnering with Fred in the months and years ahead. I am reassured by his commitment to continuing to build the Brandeis of the 21st century — a nonsectarian, Jewish-rooted university dedicated to academic excellence and social justice.

Thank you for your continued support.

Nancy Winship, P’10, P’12
Senior Vice President of 
Institutional Advancement

Fellows Joan ’60 and Milton Wallack ’60, co-chairs of the 50th Reunion Committee.
Fellows Joan ’60 and Milton Wallack ’60, co-chairs of the 50th Reunion Committee.

Commencement Dinner

The Brandeis family — alumni, trustees, friends, faculty and members of the Class of 1960 who were on campus to celebrate their 50th Reunion — gathered for the annual Commencement dinner. The program included a special tribute to outgoing president Jehuda Reinharz, Ph.D.’72, and a salute to the honorary degree recipients: Michael Oren, Israeli ambassador to the United States; Paul Farmer, founding director of Partners in Health; Judith Kaye, a pioneering judge in New York; author Antonio Muñoz Molina; U.S. diplomat Dennis Ross; and singer-songwriter Paul Simon.

Alumni Gift Boosts Aid to Students

In response to the university’s need to provide students with additional financial aid, an anonymous alumnus made a $2 million gift to Brandeis in support of undergraduate student scholarships. It is the largest-ever alumni gift for scholarship aid.

The endowed scholarship fund will make available about $100,000 each year to help ensure that Brandeis continues to meet the financial needs of students.   

The alumni donor was among the first generation of his family to attend college. The financial aid he received from Brandeis made it possible for his working-class parents to pay for his education.

“This is an important gift at an important time,” says Nancy Winship, P’10, P’12, senior vice president of institutional advancement. “It is particularly gratifying to see an alumnus who was the beneficiary of the generosity of others turn around and support today’s students.”

Securing money for student scholarships is the university’s top fundraising priority.

During the 2009–10 academic year, Brandeis awarded nearly $46 million in grants and scholarships to undergraduates. More than 70 percent of Brandeis’ 3,500 undergraduates receive financial aid. The average award is almost $23,000.

Elisa Gassel ’01 and Michael Goldberg
Elisa Gassel ’01 and Michael Goldberg

Golf and Tennis Outing

The Brandeis Golf and Tennis Outing raised more than $100,000 for undergraduate student scholarships. The sixth annual event, which was sponsored by Alpine Capital Bank, was held at Old Oaks Country Club in Purchase, N.Y.

Donors Rise to (Krupp) Challenge


The Krupp Scholarship Challenge has already raised in excess of $1.6 million from alumni and friends — more than 80 percent of the $2 million goal needed to generate a $1 million match from Boston community leaders Liz and George Krupp.

For every $2 Brandeis raises in new and increased gifts for student scholarships, the Krupps have agreed to contribute $1 in support of scholarships in the arts and humanities. Securing money for student financial aid is the university’s top fundraising priority.

Launched in April 2009, the Krupp Challenge allows donors to leverage their gifts to increase their impact.

To be eligible for the Krupp Challenge match, gifts must be designated for scholarship support and be received from donors who either did not make a gift in fiscal year 2010 (July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010) or are increasing their gift this fiscal year.

Campaign Wins CASE Award

The Office of Development and Alumni Relations at Brandeis was honored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for its fundraising efforts.

Brandeis received a Silver Award in the 2010 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards Program in the category of Technology Applications and Creative Use of New Media for the recent Support Our Students viral marketing campaign.

The two-segment fundraising initiative employed social media and new online technology to engage alumni and empower them to solicit their fellow graduates.

The first part of the campaign relied on a brief, light-hearted video featuring Brandeis’ beloved school mascot, Ollie the Owl, in “A Day in the Life of Ollie the Brandeis Student.” The campaign’s second segment, the Alumni Video Challenge, asked alumni to submit videos telling fellow alumni about their unique and fun  Brandeis stories.

CASE awards recognize outstanding work in the areas of fundraising, alumni relations, communications and marketing. Some 2,700 entries were submitted in this year’s contest.

Princeton University captured the Gold Award and Children’s Hospital Boston earned the Bronze Award.

“This award speaks to our department’s willingness to embrace new technology and social media to engage alumni and friends,” said Nancy Winship, P’10, P’12, senior vice president of institutional advancement. “While viral marketing will never replace face-to-face visits, direct mail, and phone solicitation, it has become a valuable part of our fundraising enterprise, particularly concerning engagement with our younger alumni.”

Make a Gift

To make a gift on our secure online giving site, visit givingto.brandeis.edu.