From the Nominator

William & Mary Senior Class Gift is a peer-to-peer student philanthropy program for the senior class. Focused on a giving participation rate rather than a monetary goal, the Senior Class Gift Committee looks to encourage giving participation amongst their fellow seniors by driving engagement, education, senior mug deals, and Senior Mug Nights throughout the year. Since spring break of 2020, William & Mary Senior Class Gift has strived to reach the high participation-giving rates of the classes that came before the pandemic. The classes of 2021 and 2022 focused on the student philanthropy motto of “giving back to pay it forward” to make a positive impact on an area of campus most affected by the pandemic; the Class of 2023 came into the fall semester with an additional focus: by centering the Senior Class Mug around promoting the social aspect that Senior Mug deals bring, it adds another layer of meaningful connection with their classmates, the institution and the community that supports them. The Senior Class Committee, which is the student-led group that drives Senior Class Gift, began their senior year with a focus on three main aspects to help reach their goal: increasing participation rate by promoting different levels of giving, increasing senior mug deals and events at local businesses to strengthen engagement amongst the senior class, and educating the importance of how a gift of any size can directly impact William & Mary and the student experience.

From the Judges

This Senior Class Gift is a solid fundraising idea that has grown over the past 10 years to resonate with a significant number of students and alumni. This initiative is focused on a giving participation rate rather than a monetary goal, and it has captured the imagination of alumni businesses as well as current senior students alike. Not only is it a nice memento of their time spent at William & Mary, but it also builds a culture of future philanthropic giving and encourages the community to think about how giving a gift, irrespective of size, can have a positive impact on the overall student experience.