The Power of Flexible Philanthropy

Visit salemstate.edu/impact to learn more about how unrestricted support has made an impact this year.

“Unrestricted support is especially important at a time of change in higher education and the world around us. We remain committed to investing in areas that help to advance our diversity and inclusion efforts, drive our equity agenda, enhance student success and retention, and position students to lead in their communities and in their careers. These priorities are front and center as members of the Salem State community collaborate to determine where unrestricted support will have the greatest impact, and as we seek to be more student centered than ever before.” —John D. Keenan, president

Unrestricted gifts are critical to Salem State University. These flexible gifts provide us with critical and necessary funding—whether to start a new student success initiative, support students’ needs or weather a pandemic.

Here, we share the perspectives of six individuals—donors, program leaders and students—who deeply understand the power of unrestricted philanthropy.

SUPPORTING SALEM STATE AND ITS STUDENTS: ELAINE A. ZETES ’88G

“It was known and expected in our family that higher education would push each of us forward. In the 1940s, my aunt and uncle graduated from Salem State. I followed them in 1988 when I earned my MBA here. When I give unrestricted dollars through the Annual Fund, I know I’m giving to an institution that is well managed. It doesn’t matter what amount you give—every unrestricted dollar goes to further the goals of Salem State and its students. It’s important to remember that you can give to unrestricted as well as other specific areas of the university. Doing one doesn’t mean you can’t do the other!”

PROTECTING AND ADVOCATING FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS: EVAN KRAVETTE ’22G

“I joined the Inclusive Excellence team as an intern to help figure out how to better support LGBTQ students. When I saw that our bisexual, transgender and queer students are more likely to report experiencing unwanted sexual contact than their cisgender peers who are heterosexual, gay or lesbian, I wanted to focus my work in that area. I’m grateful that unrestricted funding provided this opportunity to create a new program and simultaneously prepared me for my career while engaging in this crucial work for our most vulnerable students. The more unrestricted funding we can access moving forward, the more we can develop programs and resources to support underrepresented student populations across Salem State. There’s so much more we could do.”

HELPING STUDENTS ACHIEVE A COLLEGE DEGREE: WENDY M. NASSER CPA ’89

“I’ve been giving to Salem State every year for 22 years. I chose to study at Salem State because I could keep my part-time job. I put myself through college by working for the accounting department with the Gloucester newspaper that became part of Salem Daily News. I think it’s become harder for students to put themselves through college. When I decide where I’m donating every year, Salem State is at the top of my list. Unrestricted is very important in my opinion. I want the leadership to be able to use the funds where they feel the need is the greatest and make sure that students are receiving the support they need and deserve.”

FINDING MEANING THROUGH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: LIZABETH DAVIS ’23

“Fueled by unrestricted dollars, Salem State’s First Year Day of Service gives 100 first-year students the chance to spend a day giving back to the local community. I volunteered at the food pantry at Citizens Inn Haven from Hunger. After this, I applied for and became a civic engagement fellow through the university’s Center for Civic Engagement. A lot of the issues students face, like accessing resources and food insecurity, shouldn’t be their problems to solve alone. I’ve learned from the center how to advocate for people without speaking for them. If I see an issue on campus that other students want to solve, I can be part of the solution by amplifying their voices and helping them push it through. It’s really empowering.”

PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE STUDENTS:

RACHEL FRANK ’19G, MSW, student life case manager “Students aren’t going to graduate if they’re hungry and have nowhere to sleep. Thanks to the Massachusetts Student Housing Security Pilot Program and unrestricted gifts to Salem State, we’re able to provide our most vulnerable students with the basic security, dignity and autonomy they need to succeed in college. We guarantee 12 months of campus housing and cover meal plans. When these individuals can stay enrolled and ultimately graduate, upward socioeconomic mobility becomes possible for these motivated and deserving students.”

PROVIDING EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: SANJAY KUDRIMOTI,

assistant professor of accounting and finance “Thanks to unrestricted funds, the Cabot Wealth Management Lab continues to provide hands-on experience in and out of the classroom. It’s an essential tool for my students managing the Student Investment Fund. The lab provides access to the financial information through 12 Bloomberg Terminals and elevates the abilities of student asset managers to investigate and analyze the work in using real dollars invested in their own portfolio.” 

RECENT AREAS IMPACTED BY UNRESTRICTED GIVING

• Student Emergency Fund • Center for Civic Engagement • Cabot Wealth Management Lab • Internship Scholarships • Office of Inclusive Excellence • Massachusetts Student Housing

Security Pilot Program

• Endowed scholarships and

departmental awards