Giving to Mudd: Straight Talk

We’re just going to say all the things you might be thinking: You (or your family) spent a small fortune on your HMC education. You’re still paying back student loans. You’re at a place in your career where discretionary income is more of an aspiration than a reality. Maybe you’re focusing on grad school now. Or your financial priorities center around starting or supporting your family. Or maybe your four years at Mudd were grueling and draining and you want to forget most of it (at least for now).

Fair enough. We understand, and we respect your choices. Our relationship with you is what we value most, regardless of whether you ever give a cent. BUT…

Maybe (as you think about it) there was a faculty member who inspired you—or a classmate who changed your life for the better. And there’s a part of you that wants do something to help a student like you. 

You actually can make a real impact in ways that matter, regardless of the size of your donation. We wouldn’t be doing our jobs very well if we didn’t lay this all out for you. So, here are a few basic points to consider:

I guess I’ve got $5 to spare. Where can I direct my donation to make the most impact out of each dollar I give?

That would be the Annual Fund, which provides a way for alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and other friends to make gifts of any size.  When pooled together, these gifts provide a significant source of critical revenue that support students and faculty by funding the ongoing operation of the College. And, since Annual Fund gifts are not restricted in their use, these funds can flow quickly to the areas within the budget where they’re most needed—like student aid or career services, for example. Your gift becomes part of something much bigger, and every dollar makes a difference.

Seriously? That sounds like lip service.

Seriously. It’s pretty basic: there is strength in numbers. Regardless of the size of gift, when it is combined with nearly 2,000 other gifts, the cumulative impact is powerful. Your participation itself is also significant. Alumni giving participation impacts everything from our rankings to the level of financial support we receive from foundations and grants, which makes your degree more valuable. Every gift of any size counts toward participation, so yes: every dollar really does make a difference.

But what if I want to know where my money goes? Like maybe I want to support students or the department that has my favorite profs?

While it’s true that gifts to the Annual Fund are typically not restricted in their use, there are some limited options that allow you to target your gift to an area within the operating budget. Examples of this include student financial aid, student services, the President’s Scholars Program and operating support for a specific academic departments. The gifts stay unrestricted, but they are used within the budget areas that you specify.

Okay, I get it. It’s important. But sometimes it seems like I only hear from the College when its asking me for money. Is that all you care about?

It’s definitely NOT all we care about. And we send a whole lot of email about other things. If you’re only hearing from us when we ask for money, then we guarantee you are not getting all of our alumni communications. But really…while philanthropic support is crucial, we understand that the spirit of generosity shows up in other important ways. Many of our alumni choose to support Mudd by sharing their time, expertise and enthusiasm instead of (or in addition to) a financial gift. Check out our volunteer opportunities if you’re curious!

Why do alumni choose to support Mudd?

Hear what some of them have to say.

If you’re inspired, you can make your gift online.

Contact Megan Hast, assistant director of annual giving, at mhast@hmc.edu or 909.607.8578 if you have additional questions or would like to discuss specific opportunities for support.