FAQ
What is The Penn Fund?Where are gifts to The Penn Fund directed?
Why should we give to The Penn Fund?
Will donor participation help Penn in its rankings?
How do we know gifts will be used right away?
How are reunion gifts allocated?
What are Approved Class Projects?
What is the Red and Blue Calling Crew and who do they call?
How do I make a gift to The Penn Fund?
I support other Penn programs, why are you asking me for more?
Where should gifts to The Penn Fund be directed?
What is The Penn Fund?
The Penn Fund is the University’s undergraduate unrestricted annual giving program. Since 1927, The Penn Fund has contributed to the University’s growth and the experiences of all Penn students by soliciting annual gifts from alumni and friends who are committed to the advancement of the University.Where are gifts to The Penn Fund directed?
Gifts to The Penn Fund are immediately directed to the areas of the University that need support the most. These areas most often include student financial aid, residential experience, student life & academic support, and special University initiatives.Why should we give to The Penn Fund?
All undergraduate alumni from Penn are encouraged to give to The Penn Fund annually in support of Penn students in order to give back to the University that gave them so much. The Penn education of all undergraduate alumni was directly supported by gifts from the alumni who came before them – even if full tuition was paid. The cost of a Penn education is far greater than that of the tuition and fees charged. Therefore, Penn alumni have the opportunity to truly make a difference for those who follow in their footsteps. Participation at any level will make this happen.Will donor participation help Penn in its rankings?
Gifts to The Penn Fund do help the University to maintain its ranking as one of the premier universities in the nation in terms of the quality of its students, its faculty, its academic and extracurricular programs, and its research. The participation and involvement of alumni plays a role in determining these listings.How do we know gifts will be used right away?
Penn Fund gifts are used to support the annual operating budget, not the endowment, and thus are put to immediate use. As with most colleges and universities, tuition and fees are lower than the actual cost of providing an education. Therefore, alumni support is crucial to the education of Penn students.How are reunion gifts allocated?
All gifts designated to individual endowed scholarship funds are restricted to those funds. Gifts not restricted to an individual endowed scholarship are designated to the appropriate class reunion fund within The Penn Fund.
For reunion classes celebrating their 5th, 10th, 15th, or 20th reunions, all class funds are designated unrestricted for The Penn Fund.
For classes celebrating their 25th reunion and higher, class funds are designated between an Approved Class Project and unrestricted for The Penn Fund. Approved Class Projects may include a capital component, a gift to a class scholarship, or a combination of both. At the beginning of each reunion cycle, the University compiles a list of capital projects across campus for budget-relieving priorities that will have a positive impact on undergraduate life. Gift committee volunteers are then presented with the project options that fit within their class’s goals and determine the composition of their Approved Class Project. If the Approved Class Project includes a capital component, incoming receipts are allocated to the capital project first, followed by an even distribution between unrestricted for The Penn Fund and the class scholarship until the goals for each have been met. Any excess funds in the class fund once the goal for the class scholarship has been met are designated unrestricted for the Penn Fund and benefit the University’s most pressing undergraduate priorities.
What are Approved Class Projects?
In addition to their goals for unrestricted giving to The Penn Fund and gifts to individual endowed scholarships, classes celebrating a 25th reunion and higher have an opportunity to fund an Approved Class Project through The Penn Fund, which may consist of a capital project, a gift to a class scholarship, or a combination of both. At the beginning of each reunion cycle, the University presents a list of capital projects for gift committee volunteers to consider when selecting their Approved Class Project. This list includes budget-relieving priorities from across campus that will have a positive impact on undergraduate life. Classes are encouraged to designate part (or all if they so choose) of their Approved Class Project towards their class scholarship.
What is the Red and Blue Calling Crew and who do they call?
The Penn Fund's Red and Blue Calling Crew hires Penn students each academic year to make phone calls to alumni who hold undergraduate degrees, as well as to Penn parents, to solicit unrestricted gifts to the University. Students have the opportunity to connect personally with alumni and other members of the Penn community and to learn the importance of philanthropy.How do I make a gift to The Penn Fund?
There are many ways to give to The Penn Fund in support of undergraduate education at Penn. Visit our Ways to Give page to find out more.I support other Penn programs, why are you asking me for more?
The University appreciates your support. The Penn Fund is an unrestricted giving fund, which means that your gift would immediately meet the needs of undergraduate students at Penn. Gifts to The Penn Fund support academic programs, student financial aid, and other critical educational priorities. We would like your help and participation at any level.Where should gifts to The Penn Fund be directed?
Gifts to The Penn Fund can be made via the phone, mail or online:The Penn Fund
601 Franklin Building
3451 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6285
phone: 800-237-2655; 215-898-8445
fax: 215-573-0197
email: pennfund@dev.upenn.edu
website: www.alumni.upenn.edu/pennfund/giving
Have a question not answered here? Email The Penn Fund and we will respond within 24-48 hours!
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