A Conversation with Shelby Radcliffe

Vice President for Advancement

Willamette had a record year for giving this year. What’s the significance of that for you?

From past surveys, we learned a large percentage of our alumni had a positive experience and found their education really benefited them, which was great. But we also heard loud and clear that people didn't know as much about what was going on at Willamette or the vision for where the institution was going. We put more effort into our communications and outreach, and I think people are hearing the news, finding the vision compelling and coming forward to help it succeed.

It's exciting for us to see such a diverse community of donors showing up for Willamette and our students every year. It includes everything from payroll deduction contributions from employees, to the first gift from a graduating senior, to parents who are delighted at their child’s experience, to friends of the arts, and our graduate and undergraduate alumni.

The gifts themselves are also diverse with all levels of support for the graduate and the undergraduate colleges. We had the largest number of $1 million pledges this year, 30 new members joined our R.A. Booth Society, which recognizes planned gifts, and we’ve had a wonderful response to our new Annual Fund leadership circle program. We’re seeing a combination of support for the Annual Fund that invests in the students today and the endowment that invests in the students of tomorrow.

The commitment of the entire community puts energy and momentum behind our ability to champion our students and develop them as future leaders, and the ambition to provide the best education of the Pacific Northwest.

Why is the Annual Fund so important to Willamette?

Fundamentally the Annual Fund helps Willamette be accessible to the brightest students who want to come to our university. With a strong Annual Fund, we can build an incredible community of students and scholars who learn and grow in an environment where they are wrapped in our motto. Without the Annual Fund, many of those students would not be able to receive the level of aid to choose to attend Willamette and be part of the Willamette family. It’s an essential part of our mission.

Say a little more about the endowment and why that’s important.

Willamette’s endowment is an expression of generations in the past investing in the university, and gifts to it today are hope for the future. Combined, they ensure that we can continue to deliver the best possible educational experience. Willamette's first $1 million campaign was more than 100 years ago. Since then, our endowment has served generations of students, withstood economic ups and downs, and allowed us to evolve and continue supporting students of today. This year, donors made $10.7 million in new endowed scholarship commitments and that means more students will always have access to a Willamette education.

Willamette has also grown the number of volunteers dramatically in recent years. Can you talk about the difference they make to the University?

We see volunteers as an extension of our team, as they make so much more possible than we could do on our own. They are insiders and partners in developing and supporting important programs that make a world of difference to our students— everything from enrollment, career advice, internships, and mentoring to participating with faculty in teaching. They also play a vital role in nurturing a real sense of family in the Willamette community through supporting programs across the country and reunion weekend, and by building affinity programs such as our Heritage Club, Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD), Alumni of Color, the WU Sustainability Network, Women in Business, Politics & Policy, LGBTQIA+, Arts, Parent & Family Forums, and more. The Willamette community overall is more engaged and invested thanks to the work that these volunteers are doing.

We also know that there are many volunteers out there that are informally helping us by promoting Willamette to prospective students and in their communities. Those actions are also incredibly valuable and welcomed. We regularly hear that a student was introduced to Willamette by someone they know in their community.