From the Nominator

On March 7, 2020, just before COVID-19 changed our world, Hamilton College launched a new initiative to raise money for financial aid. This initiative was part of a broader objective to raise $120M in endowment funds for scholarships as part of the $400M Because Hamilton Campaign. When this initiative was launched, the total raised was just over $90 million. Within eight months of launching the MacLennan Scholarship Match, 71 new endowments were established and another 14 existing scholarships were increased by $50,000 or more. Nearly $10 million was added against the $120 million goal, and there are still more donors in line when additional matching funds become available. For comparison, in a typical year, Hamilton adds 12 new endowed scholarship funds. 

Led by an estate gift from James MacLennan ’58, a long-time supporter of financial aid at Hamilton, a $10M pool of matching funds was created for anyone willing to establish a new endowed scholarship fund or grow an existing scholarship fund. New commitments of $50,000 or more, payable over one to five years, were eligible to be matched one-to-one.

With COVID-19 limiting travel and in-person meetings, Hamilton’s gift officers met with alumni, parents, and friends via Zoom and phone to share news of the MacLennan Challenge. The promotions team created a video for social media to spread the news more broadly. While gift officers secured the majority of the new endowments, 17 of the 71 new funds were established by donors whose lifetime giving histories totaled less than $50,000.

From the Judges

Within eight months of launching the MacLennan Scholarship Match, Hamilton College secured 71 new endowments that were established, surpassing the average of 12 new endowed scholarship funds in a given year, and another 14 existing scholarships were increased by $50,000 or more. This campaign is a great example of the intersections between philanthropy and access, positioning students to succeed at Hamilton without the financial burden typically associated with higher education.