Merrimack College Annual Impact Report 2017-18

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2017–2018

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“Attending Merrimack has been a dream of mine that is becoming less of a dream and more of a reality, thanks to your generosity.”

— Kevin Hewitt ’22 Scholarship Recipient

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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Thank you for everything you do every day for our students and this College. Our future is ever more bright because of you. This past fall Merrimack is 71 years old and I can’t recall when our community has had a more momentous year.

We have become a Top-50 school in our U.S. News category, and are also one of the “Most Innovative” schools in the northern United States.

This follows Money Magazine’s recognition of us as one of the 10 “Most Transformative” institutions in the country. We announced the College’s move to NCAA Division I Athletics. We welcomed our largest-ever freshman class — more than 1,100 students — opened our fifth school, Health Sciences, and won preliminary state approval to begin offering nursing degrees.

When we broke ground for Crowe Hall, the College’s first new academic building in three decades, I noted that Merrimack was replacing the promise of “we will be” with the reality of “we are.” Truly, we have come into our own as an institution and a community. These great honors and recognitions are not the reasons for our success — they are the results of it.

We are successful because we had a great vision, in our Agenda for Distinction, and worked with discipline and purpose to implement that vision. We are successful because we have recruited great faculty and staff, nurtured and developed our people, rewarded talent, and invested strategically in academics and facilities, and these decisions brought us ever more students who are excited by the prospects we promise for their future.

We are successful because we did all this, with your support, by hewing to our Augustinian principles — that we live and learn best when we act as a community.

We will be proud and we will celebrate then turn back to the task before us.

We are top 50.

We are Division I. We are transformative and innovative.

Most importantly, together as a community, We Are Merrimack.

Best,

Christopher E. Hopey, Ph.D. 3

FUNDRAISING BREAKDOWN 2017–2018 Thanks to your support, this past fiscal year has been our most successful to date. You are one of 3,430 donors who have generously contributed to raising $13,025,843. Your gift supports the growth and advancement of Merrimack College.

Restricted Gifts | $6,883,337 Restricted gifts are those with a purpose clearly specified by the donor.

Restricted Gifts 53%

Endowed Gifts | $2,770,307

Endowed Gifts 21%

Endowed gifts are used to support institutional projects, programs, or activities over an extended period of time.

Deferred Gifts | $1,902,348 Deferred Gifts 15%

The Merrimack Fund 6% Sponsored Research 5%

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Deferred gifts are those whose principal benefits do not accrue to the institution until some future time, usually at the time of the donor’s death.

The Merrimack Fund | $795,909 The Merrimack Fund is the College’s annual fund.

Sponsored Research & Other | $673,942 Sponsored research is an allocation of funds from a foundation, corporation, or government agency for the use of student or faculty research purposes.

THE MERRIMACK FUND IMPACT 2017–2018 In 2017–2018, The Merrimack Fund raised more than $795,000 to provide student scholarships, increase financial support for faculty, build state-of-the-art athletic facilities, and support student life initiatives.

Gifts to The Merrimack Fund support the following areas: Academics and Student Life Gifts to academics and student life provide academic enhancements throughout all five of our schools, as well as support student clubs and organizations and service trips.

Area of Greatest Need Gifts to the area of greatest need fund the College’s most pressing needs, supporting a wide range of programs and projects across campus.

Academics and Student Life 17% $134,926 Area of Greatest Need 42% The Warrior Fund (Athletics)

$337,460

Gifts to The Warrior Fund provide leadership development training for student-athletes, cutting-edge technology and equipment, fund out-of-region travel, and much more.

The Warrior Fund 27% $216,762

Scholarship Gifts to scholarship make a Merrimack education accessible to deserving students.

More than 90 percent of Merrimack students receive financial aid.

Scholarship 14% $106,759

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GIVING SOCIETIES Thank you for making a powerful investment in the College and helping to fund critical projects and programs. From creating more student learning spaces on campus to making critical academic hires that will enable Merrimack’s reputation to soar, your gift touches areas related to teaching, research, and student life in fundamental ways.

Donors are honored with recognition through the following giving societies:

THE MERRIMACK SOCIETY The Merrimack Society recognizes the College’s leadership donors, whose thoughtful annual contributions total $1,000 or more.

“I received a good education in the Augustinian tradition at Merrimack. My education served me well as I worked to support myself and my family. My donations to Merrimack College is my attempt at pay back for the education and spiritual training I received at Merrimack so many year’s ago.”

— Tony Fragala ’54, P’86, ’92 Donor, The Merrimack Society

The Merrimack Society is comprised of four membership levels which help fund vital projects and programs at Merrimack College.

Member Level

Dollar Amount

Austin

$5,000+

Cushing

$2,500–$4,999

McQuade

$1,000–$2,499

Young Alumni McQuade

$100+

$3.9M 6

(for classes 2008–2018)

raised by members of The Merrimack Society.

THE WENZEL SOCIETY The Wenzel Society recognizes Merrimack’s most loyal donors, who make annual gifts to the College for three or more consecutive years.

“It’s important for donors to see that the employees believe in the place.

I give regularly because I believe in this institution. For me this isn’t just a job — ­ there’s something special about this place. Our lives have been made better because of Merrimack.”

— Dr. Michael Bradley ’78, P’07, ’08 Co-chair, Mathematics Department Donor, The Wenzel Society

55%

of all donors are members of The Wenzel Society.

THE 1947 SOCIETY The 1947 Society recognizes Merrimack alumni, parents, and friends who demonstrate their generosity and commitment to the College with a planned gift.

“Merrimack has made a tremendous effort to stay competitive in an aggressive market and always finds different ways to contribute to the community. I really like the innovative and unique work Merrimack is doing and I want to help support that.”

— Frieda Bleeck ’66 Donor, The 1947 Society

22%

growth in members over the past year.

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TOGETHER FOR GOOD: THE CAMPAIGN FOR MERRIMACK COLLEGE Merrimack College has reached its inflection point. Publicly launched in October of 2016, Together for Good is the moment when purpose, vision, and community come together to create something extraordinary. Together for Good embodies the Augustinian tradition and positive impact we can make when we all come together. It is with your philanthropic support that we are able to achieve our ambitious goals.

+ BUILDING FOR GOOD Goal: $10,000,000 Raised: $9,240,874

+ COMPETING FOR GOOD Goal: $6,000,000 Raised: $3,387,882

92% 56%

+ INNOVATING FOR GOOD Goal: $2,000,000 Raised: $1,691,499

85%

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Gifts as of June 30, 2018

+ STANDING UP FOR GOOD Goal: $21,000,000 Raised: $25,581,240

122%

+ BUILDING FOR GOOD Capital improvements are critical to support the vision for Merrimack’s future — a larger campus footprint will offer new and renovated square footage that support a growing student population and expanded academic offerings.

“The Arcidi Center is a symbol of Merrimack’s advancement over the past few years — prospective students will get a first-hand look at our rejuvenated campus, and current students can take advantage of top-class career opportunities with this new center.”

— Kevin O’Neil ’19 Admissions Ambassador

+ COMPETING FOR GOOD To compete at the highest level, we have invested in a state-of-theart Division I Athletic District for our student athletes, coaches, and fans — helping to build our brand and cultivate champions in the classroom, in competition, and in the community.

“I take a lot of pride in being able to represent Merrimack College both athletically and academically.

With the variety of facilities and resources that we have access to, there is no limit to the success that we will reach as an institution both on and off the field.”

— Nicole Nanof ’19 Student-Athlete

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+ INNOVATING FOR GOOD We have transformed academic support services at Merrimack with a new Academic Success Center (ASC). By providing expanded study areas and centralized services, we will continue to advance collaboration between students, academic coaches, counselors, advisors, and mentors.

“My son’s involvement with the Academic Success Center was critical to his success in college. The ASC staff was so nurturing with their unwavering support, he not only excelled his freshman year, it provided him with the tools and attitude to be successful throughout his following years. Truly a game changer for him!”

— Bill Marsden ’81, P’19 College Leadership Council

+ STANDING UP FOR GOOD Catholic Augustinian values still guide our actions — continuing to increase our scholarship offerings, expand service learning and mission opportunities, foster research initiatives, and advance academic programs, allows students to achieve their full potential at Merrimack College.

“Actions can have rewards or consequences on others that aren’t always anticipated. Being a benefactor to Merrimack has been a good decision. When you do things in life, be aware of how you impact other people.”

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— Vin Foley ’68 Donor, Standing Up for Good

“Merrimack is an extraordinarily special place. There is an energy, enthusiasm, and joy on this campus that’s unmistakable.

With your support, we continue to guide our students toward a vibrant future that might otherwise not have been possible.”

— Father Raymond Dlugos, O.S.A., Ph.D. Vice President for Mission and Ministry Co-chair, Standing Up for Good

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Office of Development and Alumni Relations