Babson alumni, parents, and friends are coming forward in ever-growing numbers to invest in the College so future generations of students can acquire a make-it-happen mindset that will create social and economic value.
From 2013 to 2018, the number of donors to Babson has increased by 74 percent, and alumni participation has increased from 15 percent to 30.5 percent. Between 2013 and 2018, total commitments to the College have grown from $10.4 million to $67.4 million annually.
Every gift of any amount is greatly appreciated and valued by the College. Participation rates are one of the important factors that have helped keep Babson rated as the No. 1 program in undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurship education by U.S. News & World Report.
While Babson recognizes and celebrates gifts at all levels, the College has been especially fortunate to receive ongoing financial support from a core group of philanthropists who have placed Babson among their top giving priorities.
These generous individuals have had the willingness and the capacity to—over time—change the course of Babson’s future through their philanthropy. From advancing academic priorities, to endowing faculty and staff positions, to creating scholarships, and building new campus facilities, these donors have left an enduring legacy to the Babson experience.
In recognition of these preeminent benefactors, this May Babson will launch the Circle of Distinction, the college’s first lifetime giving society that includes people who have given $1 million or more to the College during their lifetimes.
At a luncheon being held during Commencement weekend, more than 80 individuals will be inducted as Circle of Distinction members for their extraordinary commitment to Babson.
“There is no better time to celebrate these exceptional alumni, parents, and friends,” said President Kerry Healey. “Babson’s first century was built on the generosity of our leadership donors, and we want to take this opportunity in our Centennial year to honor them. We are thrilled to welcome 80 Circle of Distinction members and highlight their impressive lifetime contributions.”
Collectively, these individuals have committed more than $330 million to Babson to date. Their impact is remarkable.
For example, their gifts designated for scholarships and financial aid have helped deserving students from around the world—from Maine to Texas, Brazil to Egypt, and everywhere in between. The result: a diverse, multicultural student body and numerous opportunities for any aspiring entrepreneurial leader, regardless of background or circumstances, to access a Babson education.
The common thread among these donors is that they have entrepreneurship in their blood— whether as executives, entrepreneurs, or leaders of family businesses—and they fundamentally believe in the College’s mission to create economic and social value everywhere.
“Babson has had a profound impact on my life and on the lives of our alumni,” said Craig Benson ’77, H’03, vice chair of the Board of Trustees and chair of the Advancement Committee. “More important, however, is the impact Babson alumni, parents, and friends have on the lives of people living around the world. I believe that fact lies at the heart of why these individuals have made the College among their top philanthropic priorities, and we are very grateful to them.”
The College will induct additional Circle of Distinction members annually as they reach the $1 million threshold, and their names will be inscribed on a distinctive plaque in the new Kerry Murphy Healey Park. In this way, new leadership donors will build on the bedrock of those who have come before and set the stage for the College’s second century: alumni, parents, and friends who believe in the Babson DNA and its ability to create fertile ground for novel ideas. – Andy Tiedemann