Univ Record 2017

annually fund a Univ student pursuing a Master of Public Policy in perpetuity and has
further strengthened the College’s tie with the Blavatnik School of Government.
The College’s links with the Rhodes Trust were also reinforced this year as a select
group of former Univites who also were Rhodes Scholars generously collaborated
to endow a new Fund at Univ that will guarantee at least three scholars per year will
become members of Univ. More than 430 Rhodes Scholars are old and current members
of Univ, they are a special and valued cohort of our alumni and it is exciting to know
that these Rhodes Scholarships exclusively tenable at Univ will permanently exist. My
personal thanks go out to Bill Bardel (1961), Rita and Peter Carfagna (1975), President
William Clinton (1968), Richard Cooper (1964), Dr David Frederick (1983), Bruns
Grayson (1974), Dr Philip Ma (1986), Tom McMillen (1974) and other Univ Rhodes
for their noteworthy commitments to secure and further the legacy of Rhodes Scholars
at the College.
Annual Fund
An important engine of College growth and financial health is a robust annual giving
programme. The College’s Annual Fund proved to be a powerful and effective engine
this year as some 2132 Old Members contributed to the Fund donating more than
£1,082,000 in new gifts and pledged commitments. This marks the fourth straight year
that the College has cleared the £1 million mark for commitments and cash secured
through its Annual Fund. The 2132 individual Old Members who donated represent a
participation rate of approximately 31%. While the College’s commitment figures and
overall participation rate are down slightly compared with 2015-16, Univ’s Annual Fund
still stands among the leaders in Oxford and the nation as a comprehensive programme
because of its wide spectrum of Old Member support. Many thanks to all of you who
choose to contribute this year, especially the 127 new donors to the annual campaign.
Your support is invaluable and makes a qualitative difference in the lives of our students,
Fellows, and staff.
The College’s 1249 Society started several years ago to encourage leadership giving
to our Annual Fund. High end gifts to the Annual Fund make a material difference in
the experience of the members of our educational community. Whether the support
is unrestricted, designated towards the College’s academic life or directed towards the
College many Clubs and Societies, the leadership contributions of the 210 plus members
of the College’s 1249 Society make an impact. Univ’s philanthropic support is anchored
by the generosity of our 1249 Society members. You may notice them by the silver College
crested badges they wear, but I assure you the College notices them as true philanthropic
leaders whose generosity and loyal commitments are deeply appreciated.
The Golden Anniversary fundraising drive has become an ever more significant
staple of the College’s giving programme. The Class of 1966 50th Reunion Committee
constructed a weekend and fundraising effort with ‘a relaxed and friendly focus.’ The
reunion event was a ’relaxed’ affair with the weather fully cooperating, even allowing a
barbeque in the Master’s Garden without the need of a marquee. I thank all the members
of the class who made it back for the reunion weekend. The ‘focused and friendly’
fundraising effort encouraged nearly 40% of the Class to make gifts targeted to support
their 50th reunion. The collective support from the Class topped more than £105,000, in
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support of the new Class of 1966 Academic Opportunity Fund. The new fund will help
students, regardless of their financial means meet exceptional costs outside term-time
when they are offered relevant research, travel or work opportunities that go beyond, or
enhance, their basic academic course. I particularly wish to thank those who donated to
the 1966 Academic Opportunity Endowment or to the College generally in their Golden
Anniversary year. Your loyalty and generosity is wonderful. It will make a lasting impact
and will forever link the Class with the College’s effort to support learning outside the
fixed bounds of Oxford.
Univ’s annual fundraising drives have for years been dependent on the student calling
programme. This year the College supported two formal telethons held in January and
April which secured more than £410,000 in new commitments from caring Old Members.
This year’s student callers did a really good job of balancing listening to Old Members
reminisce about the College of the past with asking for support to help the College in the
future. I wish to thank the several hundreds of donors who kindly allowed us to engage
you through our calling campaigns. Your involvement with our student callers again
ensured that valuable support was available to our community. Our student callers find
telethons an unusual learning experience as they always pick up little worthwhile nuggets
from their interactions with Old Members. I thank them for their commitment of time,
patience, and enthusiasm in advancing the College with its alumni.
Univ’s Old Member population is spread around the world and we are fortunate to
have two local volunteers who help us foster alumni giving in Australia and the United
States. I wish to thank Stuart McCulloch (1982) in Australia, Kit Jing ‘Gigi’ Woo (1991)
in Hong Kong, and AFUCO Secretary Honorary Fellow Paul Chellgren (1966) for their
leadership of our fundraising efforts beyond the UK. This past year the College received
62% of its donations from benefactors outside the UK. Thanks to the work of Stuart,
Gigi, and Paul, the College is able to support efficiently the philanthropic desires of its
distantly located Old Members.
Events
An essential component of the College’s efforts to connect with its Old Members and
remain relevant in their busy lives has been a diverse and comprehensive annual events
programme. 2016-17 was rich in event offerings as nearly every month of the past year
saw a College sponsored alumni gathering whether in the form of a talk/lecture, a
reception, a barbeque, a musical performance, a sporting day, a reunion, or a tour.
If you wanted to come to a knowledgeable discussion of important issues of the
day, play some sport, reconnect with others from your subject, meet up with fellow Old
Members from your region, have a good meal or a tasty beverage, listen to excellent
music, or just meet up in College with friends and classmates, Univ’s Old Member event
programme for 2016-17 had something to offer you. Looking back at the year through
the different types of College-sponsored events might be a useful way to tour through
the past year and its memorable event highlights.
Old Member reunions may be the most common form of gatherings which the
College supports, but they are also often the most meaningful to our alumni. 2016-17
began with three reunions of very differing age groups. The year kicked off with the
50th reunion of the Class of 1966. The celebratory weekend was put together with gusto
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