CLASSES OF GOLD Reunion Handbook
Enjoy reconnecting with your classmates On behalf of Baldwin’s Office of Advancement and Alumnae Engagement and the Baldwin Alumnae Association, thank you for volunteering your time and talents toward supporting your class reunion. The Baldwin School would like to provide you with the guidance and support you need to plan a fun and memorable weekend. This handbook provides a step-by-step guide to help you prepare for alumnae weekend activities. Additionally, it will serve as a guide for the reunion giving program. Please read through the handbook and contact your class’ reunion manager with any questions you might have.
Organize Your Reunion Every five years, graduating classes of The Baldwin School celebrate reunions. These are special and important milestones for alumnae and for Baldwin. It is an opportunity to reconnect with old friends, strengthen ties with your alma mater, and demonstrate support as a class with a special gift to the School. The Office of Advancement and Alumnae Engagement will plan a full schedule of activities for reunion weekend. We strongly encourage each Class Committee to organize an individual class activity as well. Creating individual class activities will provide your class with one-onone time that enhances the group’s overall experience. Your Class Committee will act as the voice of your class through letters, emails and phone calls. Frequent communication is invaluable in generating excitement and encouraging your classmates to attend events and support your fundraising goals. You may consider sending emails with updates and tracking information related to the class giving goal.
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Steps to a Successful Reunion Plan • • • • •
Mark your calendar. Reunion activities are May 4-5, 2018 Review your class list Create or update your class Facebook page Recruit your friends and classmates Plan a class gathering
Connect • Contact classmates - encourage everyone to come back for your reunion, to attend the class event, and to make a donation to The Baldwin Fund in honor of your reunion • Send an email from the Committee • Have a phonathon to reach out to classmates
Give Back • Make your gift - as volunteers, you set the example for giving • Call or email classmates to thank them once gifts have been received
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Fundraising Overview What is The Baldwin Fund? Each year, the Baldwin community comes together to provide life-changing opportunities in the classroom, on the stage and field. Your support of The Baldwin Fund allows our students to reach their personal bests, preparing them to succeed in college, careers and life. Gifts to The Baldwin Fund give the School maximum flexibility to use the funds where they are needed most, including support to financial aid, faculty development, technology, athletics, student life programming and much more. Why Give to The Baldwin Fund? The strong philanthropic commitment of the Baldwin community is necessary to support the variety of programs and quality of facilities Baldwin is able to offer. Gifts to the school truly make a difference and touch the lives of each member of our community. A gift to Baldwin is a vote of confidence in the institution. Strong alumnae participation in The Baldwin Fund is a valuable measure of School pride and satisfaction. Online gifts can be made at www.baldwinschool.org/gift
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How Much Should Classmates Give? Reunion classes typically increase their class/individual giving anywhere from 50% - 75% above their previous year’s giving. The school relies on the generosity of reunion alumnae to make their best gift in honor of their reunion. What is the Difference Between Annual and Capital Giving? Capital gifts help to pay for major improvement projects to the physical plant that the operating budget cannot absorb. They may also be made to supplement Baldwin’s endowment. Gifts made to The Baldwin Fund directly impact the School today as your gifts help sustain all areas of the School. Each and every gift to The Baldwin Fund helps to maintain the financial stability of the School. 4
Highlights of the Weekend include: Alumnae Awards Presentation, Alex Wake ’05 Memorial 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk, Boarders’ Breakfast, Alumnae Career Panels, Reunion Cocktail Reception and Dinner, Class Photos and much more! Planning a Class Party
You can arrange to have your class event at a private home, in a restaurant, or at a private club. The Office of Advancement and Alumnae Engagement can offer suggestions for local restaurants and venues.
The Office of Advancement and Alumnae Engagement can provide suggestions for locations for your class event. A sample email correspondence to classmates is included at the end of this book.
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Sample Email to Classmates to Encourage Attendance
Dear Betsy Baldwin, It’s hard to believe it’s been (insert years) since we were wearing our Senior blazers and ringing the bell after Commencement! Now we are grown women and our lives are no longer focused on Algebra, conjugating French verbs, and figuring out what constitutes “uniform.” Our days at Baldwin – whether we were there 1, 6 or even 14 (!) years – were a time of joy and unity. We laughed together, cheered our teams on together, and crammed for exams together. We hope that you will come back to Baldwin for reunion and share your experiences with our class. Come see for yourself how the School has changed in many ways while upholding our cherished traditions. The Office of Advancement and Alumnae Engagement is planning a great weekend and our class Reunion Committee is planning a special event for our class. Please come join us. Enclosed you will find useful information regarding dates and events. Looking forward to seeing you!
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Sample Email to Classmates for The Baldwin Fund
Dear Betsy Baldwin, Reunion Weekend and the celebration of our (insert number) Reunion is right around the corner. By now you should have received a schedule of events and registration forms. Our class expects a great turnout. Thank you to all who are making the trip and taking the time to come celebrate with us. As you know we have set a goal of 100% participation for our class for The Baldwin Fund. To date we are at (insert number)% and have raised more than $(insert number). This is a great start. But we are Baldwin girls (still!) and we can do better! If you have not already, please consider giving generously to The Baldwin Fund. We are all where we are in part because of Baldwin. Let’s make certain that future generations of Baldwin girls have the same opportunities. Looking forward to seeing you!
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Confidentiality of Alumnae Information The contents of the Alumnae Reunion Handbook were designed as a guide for all class reunion leaders and volunteers, both new and experienced. We are happy to share this handbook with you and members of your class reunion committee. We remind you that alumnae names, addresses and related alumna information should be kept confidential. This information should only be used for the purpose of planning and communicating with classmates regarding activities related to Alumnae Weekend and encouraging members to contribute to The Baldwin Fund during their reunion year. Commercial use of this information is strictly prohibited and in direct violation of our rules of confidentiality. Use of names, addresses, or other information released to a volunteer for any multiple mailing without the consent of the Office of Advancement and Alumnae Engagement is prohibited.
Contact Information Kristin Thorkelson `07 Advancement & Special Events Coordinator Reunion Manager kthorkelson@baldwinschool.org 610-525-2700 ext. 231 Tara Stitchberry Prakash Director of Leadership Giving Reunion Manager for 1968 tprakash@baldwinschool.org 610-525-2700 ext. 240
Brooke Mattingly Director of The Baldwin Fund Reunion Fundraising bmattingly@baldwinschool.org 610-525-2700 ext. 403
The Baldwin School 701 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 610-525-2700 www.baldwinschool.org