Building Community at Ellis
Ellis alumnae give back to our community in many ways, and we celebrate their commitment to our school and students. Their engagement—your engagement—strengthens the arch from student to alumnae. It’s easy for us to love Ellis when we know how much you love it, too.
What Ellis Gains When Alumnae Give Back
When alumnae return to campus it produces a mirror, reflecting who you once were in our current students and what our students will become as they grow into vibrant and confident women. Our girls adore seeing and learning from visiting alumnae. They want to know what you were like as a student, your path after graduation, and your inspiration to stay connected to Ellis. They see themselves in you. Engaging with our current students reaffirms to our alumnae that the mission of Ellis continues and the work we are doing in the classroom today will produce another generation of successful Ellisians. We encourage you to give back to Ellis, and there are so many ways to do it.
As we grow and build upon the events and traditions we have in place, we want everyone to feel connected to The Ellis School. Our annual Reunion Weekend celebrates our alumnae broadly; we’re always excited to see those who return to campus, and to connect through various virtual events with those who aren’t able to come back in person. We also hold numerous events throughout the year that include our alumnae, such as our Alumnae Book Club, social and mentoring events with current students, guest lectures, and panel discussions on campus.
We also encourage you to complete our online 'alumnae connection’ form to see all the opportunities available for the 2023-2024 school year. A link to the form can be found on the For Alumnae page of our website. You’re also welcome to reach out to our Director of Development and Alumnae Engagement, Claire Devereux, if you want to be involved in the coming year’s events.
We also want to take this opportunity to thank our alumnae who have supported us with a monetary donation. Gifts to the Ellis Fund provide the school with unrestricted money to support the areas of greatest need this school year. Your gift has a direct impact on current students. We received more than 500 gifts from alumnae in the past year, and 15% of alumnae donated. Thank you to those who chose to change the world by investing in Ellis.
A Look into the Advancement Office
We are a community of learners, and even though the Advancement Office does not teach in the classroom, we strive to stay apprised of the latest technologies and best practices in fundraising. We are constantly learning.
We are honored that you have prioritized Ellis in your philanthropic decision and we’re committed to communicating the impact of your giving. As our fundraising programs mature and evolve, we have identified four areas that we feel will impact and increase our philanthropy and, in turn, support Ellis.
- Increased Focus on Digital Fundraising
We use social media, email marketing, and online giving platforms including GiveCampus to make giving easy and to provide two-way communications that highlight all the wonderful things happening at Ellis.
- Growth of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Our parent volunteers have created a successful peer-to-peer Parent Drive for the Ellis Fund. Last October, they contacted all 347 families to encourage their support and we beat all previous goals, with 93% of all current families donating to the Ellis Fund. This year we will launch a similar peer-to-peer campaign for alumnae around International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. If you are interested in joining us, please contact the Advancement Office.
- Emphasis on Donor Engagement and Retention
Your support of Ellis isn’t a transaction—it’s a relationship, and one we greatly value. We strive to create meaningful opportunities for donors to get involved, provide regular communication and updates, and recognize and thank donors for their support. These steps are crucial to building any strong relationship; we’re excited to engage in this way with you!
- Impact Reporting
We consider it a top priority to help you see the impact of your gift in first-hand accounts from current families, the stories we share on social media, and the success of our alumnae in life after Ellis. We ensure the responsible use of restricted and unrestricted funds and transparently communicate the impact of giving in our online Donor Report.
The Ellis School is fortunate to have a donor base that is involved and dedicated to making the Ellis experience exceptional for every student. Our generous community supports us both financially and with gifts of time as volunteers and trusted advisors. All of these contributions are truly appreciated.
Donor Snap Shot
Name: Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard
Relationship to Ellis: Alumna, Class of 1964
Years of Giving: 37
Type of Support: Monthly Gift
A life-longer educator who recently retired, Susan firmly believes in supporting all-girls education and her alma mater, The Ellis School. Susan set up a monthly gift to the Ellis Fund six years ago. "When you break it down to a monthly gift, it feels more manageable. Writing a check for the same amount one time each year would make me pause. A monthly gift is my way of continuing my support of Ellis, and it also doesn’t preclude me from supporting other aspects of Ellis, such as including Ellis in my estate plan.”
To make a monthly gift, please visit our Giving webpage and check the box labeled 'Make this a recurring gift.'
