A GROUNDSWELL OF NEW SUPPORT
82 Undergraduates and Young Alumni Step Up to Kick Start 2006-07 Fundraising Efforts
Twenty-five dollars really doesn't sound like that much money. It's about the cost of a new DVD. It's a few movie tickets. It's a t-shirt from the mall. But when Chi Phi receives $25 from a new donor, it's a lot. When it comes from an especially young new donor, it's enormous.
This summer, Chi Phi re-launched the Men of 1824 program, a grassroots fundraising effort reserved for undergraduates and young alumni. The idea behind the program is simple: that by adding lots of young givers today, Chi Phi's future contributor base (and its future contributions!) will be even bigger tomorrow.
Just how big of an effect has this program had? So far, our success has been off the charts. This summer, we asked roughly 150 men (all 2006 Congressional delegates and COE participants) to be a part of this program. Eighty-two men - over half - stepped forward and made $25 donations to the Chi Phi Educational Trust. Even more impressive is that many of them said that $25 wasn't enough and increased their gifts to $50 or more. The end result was a $2500 head-start for the Educational Trust's 2006-07 fundraising efforts, which $2500 before our first fundraising letter ever went out!
Those 82 men made a huge difference - and we can't thank them enough.
Being asked to join the Men of 1824 is not about being shamed into reluctantly giving; it's about proudly establishing oneself as a Brother who will ensure that he gives in the future by starting today. It's about easing the amount of Fraternity expenses borne by future undergraduates, and its about recognizing that growing the Fraternity's future means growing its future resources.
This program has another enormous benefit - it's inspirational. One alumnus was so impressed with the generosity he observed by the countless number of Men of 1824 contributions at the 2006 COE that personally matched the first twenty undergraduate contributions made at the College of Excellence - an unsolicited $500 gift.
Brian Spiro and Bobby Zienowicz, are undergraduates at the University of South Florida and Stevens Institute of Technology, respectively. They are perfect examples of why supporting the Educational Trust is important and why growing that support is essential to Chi Phi's future success.
Together, Brian and Bobby have held nearly a dozen leadership positions in their Chapters. They've each built their leadership skills through the Chi Phi College of Excellence (a Trust-supported program). They've both improved their Chapter management skills through the Regional Leadership Alliances (another Trust-supported program). They've also been privileged enough to participate in Chi Phi's newest program, an outward-bound, ritual-based, leadership development experience called the Chi Phi Wilderness Academy (yet another Trust-sponsored program).
Brian and Bobby are also multi-year members of the Men of 1824 program. They are proof-positive that this program works, that it establishes new donors, and that it establishes repeat donors. They have all benefited from Chi Phi support, and they've all stepped forward and started to give back.
"To be completely honest, I did it because I want to make sure I contribute as an alumnus. I figure, why not start now? $25 is nothing to give back, and if everyone did it, it'd be huge!" said Brother Spiro.
Brother Zienowicz, when asked about his motivation to begin giving, showed just as much love and excitement for Chi Phi: "The programs the Educational Trust has sponsored gave me the experience and knowledge necessary to help my Chapter through its stumbling period. They also helped me develop a sense of pride in my Fraternity and my chapter that motivates everything I do for Chi Phi. The Men of 1824 opportunity seemed like a good chance to give back."
Brian and Bobby aren't the only repeat donors. Nor are they the only men to receive Educational Trust scholarships or to participate in Chi Phi's vast collection of leadership-development programs. Their Chapters aren't the only ones to receive customized assistance from the National Office staff (also supported by the Trust). Those are resources available to every Chi Phi student and every Chi Phi Chapter. And consequently, over the past few years, hundreds of those men have stepped up and begun to carry the torch.
Their goal is to help catapult Chi Phi's alumni giving rate, one donor at a time.
The Men of 1824 program is an opportunity designed for every undergraduate and is targeted at alumni within five years of graduation. This year, we've seen a groundswell of new support-only two months into the 2006-07 fiscal year!-and we've seen many men representing nearly two thirds of Chi Phi Chapters become part of our long-term fundraising solution.
And we can't thank them enough!