Annual Fund
What does the Annual Fund support?
Why is it important to give to the Annual Fund?
Why is alumni participation so important?
Can I designate my Annual Fund gift to a specific area of the University?
How often will I be asked to give?
Will my gift really make a difference?
Why don't all gifts count toward the Annual Fund?
Will my Annual Fund gift count toward my class' reunion campaign?
What is the Annual Fund?
The Annual Fund is a tax-deductible opportunity to support the University. It is comprised of gifts from Dominican alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends. The Annual Fund is a yearly program that starts on July 1 and ends on June 30 (not the calendar year!).
What does the Annual Fund support?
Gifts to the Annual Fund supplement the overall operating budget of the University. That means it pays for the books in the library, the basketballs and uniforms, the salary for your favorite teacher, computers, the student health office, the petri dishes in the chemistry lab, and much, much more.
Why is it important to give to the Annual Fund?
Dominican's mission to provide an education grounded in the Dominican values cannot be achieved through tuition dollars alone. In fact, tuition only covers 75% of a Dominican education. Gifts to the Annual Fund help make up that difference.
What is alumni participation?
Dominican is able to determine its alumni participation rate by calculating the percentage of alumni who make an annual gift to the University. Every alumna/us who makes a gift counts toward our participation rate--regardless of the size of the donation. Last year, gifts of $100 or less generated $50,000. Every gift matters!
Why is alumni participation so important?
- When foundations and corporations consider grant applications, they frequently ask for the alumni participation rate. A high rate of alumni participation is a vote of confidence that is heard clearly by potential investors. Your participation--at any gift level--serves as a catalyst for larger gifts and grants.
- Alumni giving enables Dominican to provide scholarships to 93% of our students.
Can I designate my Annual Fund gift to a specific area of the University?
You can designate your gift to most any department or unit on campus. A few areas that are always popular among alumni donors are Dominican scholarships, your academic department, campus ministry, and athletics. 100 percent of your Annual Fund donation goes directly to the area you designate for your gift.
How often will I be asked to give?
We send three to four direct-mail appeals each year, and alumni volunteer and student phonathon programs attempt to reach as many individuals as possible.
Will my gift really make a difference?
Your gift, combined with the gifts of others, will assist us in reaching our Annual Fund goal of $1,000,000--the equivalent annual payout produced by a $20 million endowment.
Why don't all gifts count toward the Annual Fund?
The Annual Fund consists of unrestricted gifts to the University that support the yearly operating budget. A gift made to support a specific project, such as a gift to the endowment or a capital project, cannot be used to meet the current operational needs of the University.
Will my Annual Fund gift count toward my class' reunion campaign?
All gifts made to Dominican will count toward your class' charitable totals each year, including reunion years. Please contact us if you would like more information about your class reunion campaign effort.
What is a matching gift?
The company you work for may match your gifts to non-profit organizations like Dominican. It is like free money. Matching gift support often doubles or triples and individual's gift, and you get credit for it. You must ask your employer for the form to submit a request to have your gift matched.
How can I make a gift?
No matter your preference, there are options for everyone to make a gift to the Annual Fund.
- To give online visit www.dominican.edu/giving
- Mail in a gift
-
Send your gift, payable to Dominican University of California, to:
- Contact the Office of Advancement
Call 415-257-1349 to make a gift by credit card. Gifts also can be made via wire transfer, stock transfer, and real properties.
Office of Advancement, Annual Fund
50 Acacia Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
