Foundation Focus

Foundation Focus

Foundation Board Updates

Glenn D. Moor (Texas Tech 1984) was selected as Chairman of the Foundation and will serve until August 2024. He has previously served the Foundation as Vice Chairman and Treasurer, and he has previously served the Fraternity as Archon Treasurer. Glenn’s background is in insurance and real estate.

Glenn Moor

Ronald C. Nelson (Richmond 1977) joined the Foundation Board in July. As an undergraduate, Ron served his chapter as President and Treasurer. He received his Bachelor of Science in business administration with a finance major from the University of Richmond and his Master’s from Wesleyan University. As a graduate brother, he served the Fraternity as Purple Legionnaire of the Rho Chi Chapter from 197879 and as Director of Programs for the International Headquarters from 1979-83. Currently, Ron is the COO of Essex Financial Services in Connecticut.

Ronald Nelson

Additionally, Matthew M. Amend (Iowa 1987), G. Carl Gibson (Oklahoma 1981) and Michael Stewart (Penn State 1974) retired from the Foundation Board in 2022. These brothers served faithfully and generously for eight years for the Foundation.

End of Year Gifts

Give Appreciated Stock, Avoid Capital Gains

Giving appreciated stock to the Foundation may be more beneficial than giving cash. You can avoid paying capital gains by gifting stock to the Foundation and receiving a tax deduction for the stock's market value on the day you gift it. Transferring the stock to the Foundation can be as easy as notifying your broker. For more information, contact Ben Robinson at brobinson@phigam.org.

Have a Charitable Gift Fund?

The Foundation can receive gifts from CGFs. You will need our EIN# 52-6036185.

Make a Gift Directly from Your IRA

If you are 70 ½ years or older, you can gift up to $100,000 directly to the Foundation from your IRA. You still pay no taxes on the distribution, and it qualifies toward your required minimum distribution (RMD). The Foundation must receive the donation by December 31 for the amount to be applied to that year’s tax return. For more information, contact your IRA administrator or the Foundation: brobinson@phigam.org or 859-255-1848 x 133.

Giving Is Easy

Want to support the Fraternity’s academic endeavors and alcohol education, leadership, and mental health programs?

Online: Give securely online at www.phigam. org/Donate

Mail: Send a check made payable to Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation using the enclosed envelope.

Canada: Visit www.phigam.org/Canada to give to the Phi Gamma Delta Foundation of Canada.

Gifts to the Educational Foundation are tax-deductible in the United States.

Two New Scholarships Created

Persistence Scholarship

The Persistence Scholarship is a new scholarship awarded by the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation. It recognizes the importance we have placed on a determination to “press on,” to accomplish important goals while overcoming obstacles. The Persistence Scholarship provides financial assistance to brothers who strive for excellence in academics, fraternity and campus leadership, and service to the chapter and the community while dealing with the financial challenges of attending college. We believe these brothers are powerful catalysts for creating and sustaining successful chapters. In the inaugural year of the scholarship, the Foundation awarded 70 scholarships at $1,500 each. The average GPA of all the winners is 3.57. This year, the scholarship awards were increased to $2,500 each.

I am grateful to my chapter brothers who encouraged me to apply for this scholarship. Without the constant love and support from those I call family, I would not be able to achieve my full potential as a student leader. Being a brother of Phi Gamma Delta is truly a life-changing experience. It has allowed me to grow as a person, student, community member and as a brother. I would like to thank all the generous graduate brothers who helped support this opportunity.

- Luke Dietrich (Christopher Newport 2024)

Persistence Scholarship recipients were recognized at the 174th Ekklesia's Donor/Scholar Luncheon (L-R): Dario Banuelos (Wabash 2023), Luke Dietrich (Christopher Newport 2024), Brett Driscoll (Wabash 2024), Riley Dixon (North Carolina State 2024), Ryan Taneja (Central Arkansas 2024) and Richard Pan (Wabash 2024), with presenter, Senior Director of Graduate Engagement Dio Protopapadakis (Appalachian State 2017).

Courageous Leader Scholarship

How does Phi Gamma Delta introduce its values to a campus at large?

The Courageous Leader Scholarship (CLS) seeks highcaliber students while giving back to our campus's community to help fund a collegian’s tuition. This scholarship, based on the values of Phi Gamma Delta, will open the doors to new friendships with individuals who recognize the importance of courageous leaders and who live out the mission and vision of the Fraternity.

The CLS process will create a positive perception of Phi Gamma Delta for scholarship applicants, their parents, faculty, administrators and the campus community. And it will help fulfill the mission of our university hosts. The CLS is designed to reward values-based college men who want to succeed as scholars and leaders.

The scholarship is available to chapters that adopt the Fraternity’s Built to Lead member development program and commit to its stated goals. Scholarship awards are $1,000, and a chapter may request five per academic year. The scholarship will run for approximately two years.

White Star Legacy Society

The White Star Legacy Society recognizes those brothers and families who have chosen to leave a legacy and help shape the future of Phi Gamma Delta through their will or estate plans.

Top Three Ways to Join the White Star Legacy Society:

#1 Give a charitable bequest (a percentage or dollar amount) in your will or living trust to the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation.

#2 Name Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation as a beneficiary of your assets such as your 401K or other retirement plans upon your passing.

#3 Open a life insurance policy with the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation as the policy owner and cover annual premiums with gifts to the Annual Fund.

Gary Wilkinson (Ohio Wesleyan 1951) and his wife, Dolores, have included the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation in their estate plans. Gary’s father, Cecil J. “Scoop” Wilkinson (Ohio Wesleyan 1917), served as the Editor of The Phi Gamma Delta and as Executive Secretary of the Fraternity from 1920-1959. Gary and Dolores joined the 174th Ekklesia for the Opening Banquet, where Gary accepted his Diamond Owl certificate, celebrating 75 years of membership.

“Phi Gamma Delta has had an outsized influence in my life. With my father’s role as executive secretary while growing up, I met so many graduates from many different chapters. What a wonderful experience meeting those brothers. To know that the Fraternity carries on and can adapt to meet the needs of young men in college today would make my father proud, and it makes me proud. I am a member of the White Star Legacy Society.”

^ (L-R): Dolores and Gary Wilkinson

Leave a Tax-Deductible Gift to the Foundation

To leave a tax-deductible gift to the Educational Foundation, consider the following:

“I leave and bequeath unto the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation, Inc. the sum of $___, or ___% of estate (or specific securities or other property). Said Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation (Federal ID # 52-6036185), organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, with administrative offices at 1201 Red Mile Rd, P.O. Box 4599, Lexington, KY 40544-4599. This gift is unrestricted for general Foundation purposes.”

For estate gift questions and restrictions, please contact Executive Director Ben Robinson, at brobinson@ phigam.org or 859-255-1848 ext. 133.

Help Celebrate Our 175th Anniversary

The Fraternity and Educational Foundation are partnering to host our 2023 Giving Day during the first week of May. As we celebrate our 175th anniversary, we invite you to participate and celebrate with us by giving to the Fraternity and/or the Educational Foundation during our annual day of giving. This day presents an opportunity to further showcase that “Friendship is the Sweetest Influence.” Prizes will be awarded for chapters who finish in the top five for number of donors or for monetary contributions.

Are you interested in helping your chapter reach the top of the leader boards? If so, please consider becoming an ambassador for your chapter. If you are interested, contact Senior Director of Graduate Engagement Dionysis Protopapadakis at dprotopapadakis@phigam.org. Further information regarding the 2023 Giving Day will be shared in the coming months.

Chicago Brothers Pay Their Respects

James W. Vice, Jr. (1954), Donald M. Heinrich (1974) and Michael Dotsey, PhD (1974) visit Founder Naaman Fletcher’s grave site in Wabash, Indiana. The three enjoyed a day of travel and memories.

For more information on the Founders visit the Archives of Phi Gamma Delta's website: www.phigam.org/Archives.

A Persistence Scholarship Recipient

“Coming at the best time possible, once again, was the support of my brothers and Fraternity. There are no words to describe my gratitude. I appreciate everything that Phi Gamma Delta has given me and will continue to give me. My path is being paved with great support. I will continue to live with a great fire in my heart for the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. Forever, Press on!" - Tobi Faltynski (Embry-Riddle 2024)

Educational Foundation Board of Directors

Chairman: Glenn D. Moor (Texas Tech 1984)

Vice Chairman: Michael A. Lucas (Bradley 1983)

Finance Committee Chairman: Kevin W. Haga (Jacksonville 1992)

Secretary: William R. "Bill" Brand (RPI 1987)

Directors: D. Michael Ainsworth (British Columbia 1987), Donald M. Heinrich (Chicago 1974), Mitchell I. Henn (Case Western 1972), Scott R. Mowrer (Washington 1971), John P. O’Neill (Akron 1987), Ronald C. Nelson (Richmond 1977) & Robert A. Wunderlich, Jr. (DePauw 1988)