philanthropic report 202 3
Greetings from
Colgate Hall Dear Friends, I am writing this note as the campus community is actively preparing for final exams. After an engaging yet demanding fall semester, faculty, students and staff are looking forward to the upcoming winter break. In September, we welcomed the Class of 2027. The campus feels the most alive as it has been since the pandemic began. We had a beautiful fall day for Mountain Day, and the foliage arrived in time to welcome back hundreds of alumni, families and friends during Homecoming and Family Weekend in October. Two new facility projects have added to the excitement of campus this fall. The Chargers Athletic Pavilion on the Kelsey Athletic Campus was completed late last spring. Our student athletes used this beautiful building for their fall seasons. The pavilion includes team rooms, athletic training facilities and an outdoor gathering space. The new structure complements our beautiful playing fields. I am so grateful to Trustee Sally Shaw Veitch ’66 for the generous gift that made this project possible and for her long-time support of the college’s athletic programs. Construction on the Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences is underway and is scheduled to be completed in time for the fall 2024 semester. In addition to stateof-the-art laboratory and simulation spaces, the Schaefer Center will include a café and study areas that will be used by the entire campus community. I am very proud to share that – thanks to the support of so many of you – this new $19 million facility is being completely funded by gifts from donors, which enabled us to proceed without incurring any debt. This past year has been another very successful year for fundraising at Colby-Sawyer. The college received $20.9 million in gifts last year – the second-highest total in the college’s history! Thank you to each of you who helped us reach this incredible result. The following pages include a few examples of the extraordinary generosity that helps facilitate the transformative education our students receive at this special college. I am very appreciative of the alumni, family members and friends who have given to the college during the past year. Each of you has a direct and meaningful impact on our students and all of the work that we do here. With appreciation,
Susan D. Stuebner President and Professor of Social Sciences and Education Volanakis Family Presidential Chair
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Gifts to Colby-Sawyer
Over the Last 5 Years 2021 2023
2022
2019
2020
2023
$10.7m
$5.6m
$21.4m
$11.7m
$20.9m
$20.9 Million in Gifts in 2023 · Second highest fundraising total ever. · Fifth annual Day of Giving raised more than $300,000, with a record 1,770 donors during the 24-hour event. · Nearly 3,500 individuals and organizations made gifts, making it the second highest number of donors ever. · Largest year for bequest fundraising with $9.2 million in bequests received, including gifts from the estates of Agnes Cornell Cook ’47, Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 and others. 2
Update: Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences opening fall 2024
Since breaking ground on the Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences in early May, construction crews have stayed on track to complete the building in time to open for the 2024 Fall Semester. The new facility will accommodate growing enrollment in the college’s nursing and health science programs and allow for the integration of new technology into classrooms and laboratories. The first floor of the Schaefer Center will welcome faculty, staff and students from across campus with a café, shared spaces for studying and collaborative work and new anatomy and physiology laboratories. A simulation center for the college’s nursing programs will be housed on the second floor, helping Colby-Sawyer continue to address the shortage of highly-qualified nursing professionals in the region and beyond. Colby-Sawyer’s newest academic building is named for Janet Udall Schaefer ’52, who died in February 2022 at the age of 89 and left one of the largest one-time gifts in the college’s history. A generous donor throughout her life, Schaefer was inducted into the Legends Society in 2004 in recognition of lifetime giving of more than $1 million. In 2015, Schaefer was awarded the Susan Colgate Cleveland Medal for Distinguished Service, Colby-Sawyer’s highest honor, in appreciation of her unwavering commitment to the college. Thanks to Jan Schaefer and many other supporters, the Schaefer Center is 100 percent donor-funded. To date, the college has received $19 million in support for this project.
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tom & judy csatari: supporting the health sciences at colby-sawyer college
Tom and Judy Csatari are longtime supporters of Colby-Sawyer College, exemplifying an unwavering commitment through dedicated service and remarkable philanthropy. Since Tom joined the Board of Trustees in 2005, their visionary contributions have significantly shaped the college’s trajectory. Their investments include establishing the Gladys A. Burrows Distinguished Professorship in Nursing in 2009, a tribute to Judy’s mother, and a generous donation in 2012 to the Center for Art + Design, honoring Tom’s uncle, the artist Joseph Csatari. Most recently, they made the very first donation to the Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences, on track to open in the fall of 2024.
“For me, what’s always been great about Colby-Sawyer is that involvement by volunteers, whether it’s financial or engagement makes such a big difference.”
Nursing, and the work of Susan Reeves ‘88, drew the Csataris to philanthropic support of Colby-Sawyer. “Susan’s work at Colby-Sawyer was inspirational. She just did a phenomenal job raising the bar for our nursing program, assuring that Colby-Sawyer nurses were not only clinically accomplished but able to use their liberal arts education to complement their nursing skills. And then to go over to Dartmouth-Hitchcock and work there and help us to strengthen the affiliation with Dartmouth Health was fantastic. Having someone like her has made my involvement even more enjoyable,” Tom reflects. Tom’s time on the Board of Trustees made him acutely aware that Colby-Sawyer needed more facilities and more lab space for the growth of the Health Sciences. Tom encouraged other board members to support a move towards an increased involvement in health care,
and particularly nursing. “It really felt like the new facility is something that we needed to make a statement about early, and in a significant way,” Judy said, “For me, what’s always been great about Colby-Sawyer is that involvement by volunteers, whether it’s financial or engagement makes such a big difference.” With the new Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences, the Csataris hope that Colby-Sawyer continues to grow and expand the program. Judy comments, “Colby-Sawyer could really carve out a niche for itself if it were to dive into providing nursing education for people seeking a second career.” Judy is on the board of Kendal at Hanover and is learning a lot about continuing care retirement communities. She adds, “I think promoting that possibility of a second career or even a third career in nursing, with the shortages that we all know about too well, would be an opportunity for continuing growth.” One of the Csataris’ daughters is a social worker, and they are always looking at programs that include the social work piece in the health care spectrum. Colby-Sawyer has worked hard to keep that piece intact, adding an online Master of Social Work degree to our graduate programs. “The reality is, in addition to the need for nursing, there’s a huge need for social workers,” Tom said, “The fact that we’ve now expanded into social work with the master’s degree, that’s a huge positive, I’m really optimistic that it’s going to take off like crazy.” Judy adds, “It shows a bigger commitment to a more complete view of health care. You know, it’s definitely physicians and nurses, no one argues that. But the role of the social worker in health care is critical. So, to me, Colby-Sawyer’s involvement in that realm is quite a statement.” 4
The Davidow Scholarship Challenge Continues Increasing Support for one of the College’s Most Important Priorities
As part of a transformative $10.2 million gift made to the college in January 2021, Bill and Sonja Carlson Davidow ’56 established “The Davidow Challenge” to encourage donors to establish and contribute to endowed scholarship funds. At that time, the Davidows set aside $2 million to match gifts made to endowed scholarship funds. In 2023, Mr. and Mrs. Davidow contributed an additional $2 million to the challenge when they made a new gift that added a total of $5 million to the Colby-Sawyer Endowment. During the first two years of the Davidow Scholarship Challenge, over $2 million in gifts to 50 different endowed scholarship funds have been matched dollar-for-dollar by the Davidows. The total amount added to the scholarship endowment to date is over $4 million.
Once established, an endowed scholarship fund produces income every year to support educational expenses for students now and for generations to come. Each year, hundreds of students receive support from endowed scholarships, helping Colby-Sawyer attract high-achieving students and remain competitive in the admissions marketplace. If you are interested in supporting students through an endowed scholarship fund and doubling the value of your gift, please contact Director of Development Beth Bryant Camp ’92 at 800.266.8253 or by email at ecamp@colby-sawyer.edu.
“Thank you so much for supporting my educational goals with a scholarship. Your contribution will help me to work towards a degree in nursing, and ultimately allow me to help others, and for that I am so grateful.” Jeffrey Huckins ’27 - Nursing
“My parents always emphasized that I should shoot for the stars no matter what. Your scholarship has made a big difference for me and I am so very grateful for your generosity.“ Joseph Voivod ’24 - Psychology
“I am so thankful to have received a scholarship as it represents the hard work I have put in. Thank you to all of its contributors as I would not be the woman I am today without the generous donations you have provided.” Brenna Humpage ’25 - Nursing 5
Enduring Commitment:
A Q&A with Ed & Nancy ’56 Langbein Q: You have supported Colby-Sawyer for decades. Can you share with us why you give?
Q: What inspires you about the college and what do you hope for in the future?
A: Our support for Colby-Sawyer stems from a deep-seated belief in the importance of liberal arts education. Over the years, we have witnessed the transformative power it has on students both during school and after graduation.
A: The current leadership’s visionary direction and the remarkable work of the undergraduate students inspire us. Their commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement gives us hope for a future where the institution continues to evolve dynamically.
Supporting Colby-Sawyer specifically has been fueled by the unwavering encouragement from Nancy, whose passion for education and CSC’s mission has motivated and inspired us to contribute regularly. Ed donates in tribute to Nancy’s enduring commitment to Colby-Sawyer.
Q: How do you determine what college priorities you give to? How do you direct your support? A: We prioritize supporting college initiatives that align with realistic program expansion, particularly in areas like health sciences. Additionally, we look for opportunities for collaboration with community resources such as Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital to enhance student experiences and foster beneficial partnerships.
We hope to see ongoing advancements in academic programs, a thriving and inclusive campus environment, and increased collaborations that expand opportunities for all.
Q: Is there anything else you have you would like to share with us? A: We would like to emphasize that it is crucial to review and reconsider certain planned giving policies, specifically annuities. These are sometimes marketed as financial opportunities for donors but may yield minimal benefits for Colby-Sawyer. Instead, we advocate for a more focused approach to estate planning and bequests. By encouraging individuals to consider leaving a portion of their estates to the institution, we can ensure a more substantial and enduring impact.
Q: What gift to Colby-Sawyer has been the most meaningful and why? A: The most meaningful gift we’ve given to Colby-Sawyer has been an ongoing scholarship for a student from Maine. Meeting the recipients and witnessing how it has supported their education makes this gift deeply rewarding.
Q: What can today’s students and others learn from your charitable support? A: We believe that everyone can contribute within their means, and we hope to emphasize the impact of collective efforts. It’s essential for today’s students and others to recognize that participation, regardless of the scale, holds immense value. Small contributions, when combined, create a substantial impact.
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The new Chargers Athletic Pavilion on the Kelsey Athletic Campus. Photo by Chris Peirce ’18 10