Sun poking through trees between two Yale campus buildings.

The Reunion Gift

Reunions are a time to recognize nearly all new gifts and pledges committed during a five-year period, especially the months leading up to June 30th of the reunion year.

The class total includes new gifts to the Alumni Fund and most capital, restricted contributions. To mark a reunion year, many alumni make a stretch commitment above and beyond their ongoing annual support. Unlike most unrestricted annual gifts, capital gifts of a certain size can be directed to endow programs, support athletic teams, or fund building projects on campus.

All reunion gifts count toward the For Humanity campaign.

Making Your Gift

Examples of reunion gifts may include:

  • A larger-than-usual annual contribution to the Alumni Fund.
  • A stretch multi-year pledge to the Alumni Fund.
  • An annual gift to the Alumni Fund plus a capital commitment
    to a restricted designation.
  • A capital gift, generally with a restricted purpose (athletic team
    support, endowed scholarships, professorships, etc.).
  • A life-income planned gift, typically a charitable gift annuity or
    charitable remainder trust.
  • A documented, non-contingent bequest intention.

  • Class dues, which are tax deductible but are gifts to the class
    and not to Yale.
  • Payments on pledges made in a previous reunion cycle.
  • Gifts to societies or to other organizations for which the
    university does not maintain budget control.

Directing Your Gift

Everyone in a reunion year is asked to make an annual gift to the Alumni Fund, regardless of any additional commitments they may make. Under the umbrella of the Alumni Fund, classmates may choose to direct their support to a variety of categories including: unrestricted, financial aid, humanities, the arts, the sciences, athletics, library resources, student support, faculty support, campus facilities, New Haven support, and mental health and wellness.

A larger-than-usual annual gift to the Alumni Fund or a stretch multi-year annual pledge, payable over as many as five years, is a great way to mark the reunion year!

Outright gifts to the Alumni Fund of $10,000 or more per year provide an opportunity to name a Nathan Hale Associates Scholarship to benefit a student for one academic year. For gifts of $20,000 or more, additional Nathan Hale Associates Scholarships can be named.

Yale is a diverse institution with something to offer all prospective donors. Programs at the graduate and professional schools or initiatives in areas such as medicine, the environment, or the arts can be excellent opportunities to make a philanthropic impact at Yale.

These gifts match your interests with Yale’s needs and align with the initiatives of the For Humanity campaign, which is intentionally structured to span five years to include every class in a reunion cycle. Every gift made for your reunion counts toward the campaign total.