Director of Alumni Relations -- List of Donors -- Reports of ASSISTance
Reports of ASSISTance
A Strong Year of Fundraising for ASSIST
As with other nonprofit organizations, ASSIST has been challenged to diversify its income stream to fund its operations and maintain a strong commitment to its core mission. To keep program fee growth contained, making ASSIST accessible to all talented scholars, we have developed a new set of skills. We extend our warm thanks to the many friends of ASSIST who have helped us take positive and fruitful steps in our fundraising work.
ASSIST Annual Fund: Another Record-Setting Year!
With the campaign now completed, we are pleased to announce that 137 gifts to the 2007/08 ASSIST Annual Fund totaled $113,362, setting a new record in unrestricted giving. The Annual Fund has now more than doubled since 2000, and the 2007/08 campaign exceeded both last year's Fund ($103,445) and our budgeted goal ($100,000). A key priority of the organization is slowing the growth of program fees, so that every talented and deserving student can aspire to become an ASSIST scholar. Through your support, we can fund our operating expenses while making the exchange experience affordable.
The 2008/09 Annual Fund is already launched! To make a secure gift with your credit card over the Internet, or to explore other gift options, please follow this link to Support ASSIST.
Please follow this link to read the Report of Donors who made gifts to ASSIST this past year.
The ASSIST Förderverein Supports German Students
Our colleagues of the ASSIST Förderverein have once again stepped forward in generosity and will support 11 talented and deserving German students, awarding grants totaling $42,000. The members of the Förderverein have raised funds since 1986 so that students from families with limited economic means can accept their ASSIST scholarships. Focused primarily on students receiving partial scholarships, this generous support enables ASSIST to extend scholarship offers to the most talented students, focusing on their promise rather than on their family's income. The ASSIST Förderverein was founded in 1982 and began to grant scholarships in 1986 under the leadership of its Chairman, Dr. Detlev Rohwedder. Over the succeeding 22 years, the Förderverein has supported 279 German scholars with grants totaling $874,452. Included in this history is an increasing level of support over the past five years, through 2008/09, during whuihc time 51 students received grants totaling $231,000.
The ASSIST Förderverein and ASSIST USA: New Initiatives
During the past year, the leadership of ASSIST USA and the ASSIST Förderverein in Germany worked closely together to elevate the partnership of the two organizations. With a change in the Förderverein’s by-laws, and with ASSIST’s investment in a Director of Alumni Relations, the two organizations will now undertake a joint fundraising campaign in Germany, beginning in the 2008/09 academic year, ASSIST’s 40th anniversary.
Now, ASSIST alumni and their parents in Germany will be able to make one gift annually that supports the work of both organizations. Gifts made to the Förderverein will be used not only to directly support needy scholars in Germany, but will also be shared with ASSIST to help meet ASSIST's operating expenses in Germany. With the change in its by-laws, the Förderverein is able to acknowledge the integrated gift with a tax-exemption certificate.
We encourage all German alumni and their parents to begin to make annual, sustainable gifts that will support the work of ASSIST in Germany. Alumni in other countries are now following this new model to seek opportunities to make tax-advantaged gifts in their own nations.
Sponsoring Students from Eastern and Central Europe: Funding Complete for 2008/09!
For the 2008/09 academic year, ASSIST will welcome 38 students from eastern and central Europe. For the second consecutive year, sponsorship funding is in place to support every student. This is a significant moment in ASSIST history, as generous donors have enabled us to support these deserving students and to bring a level of excellence to our fundraising that has been a hallmark of the other segments of our program. The receiving American schools continue to offer full scholarships to these students, but we must still raise additional funds for each student to fund international and domestic airfare, a spending stipend, health insurance, orientation, our operating expenses in each country, and ongoing support throughout the ASSIST year.
For a sponsorship of $8,000, donors are enabling students to undertake life-changing experiences by accepting a scholarship valued up to $44,500 (in 2008/09). Please contact ASSIST President Bob Stanley if you – or an organization you represent – has an interest in this wonderful initiative. We are now seeking funding for the 2009/10 academic year and beyond.
Pioneer Investments Sponsors Czech Students
For the fourth time, Pioneer Investments is sponsoring students to undertake international exchanges, this time with ASSIST (they previously sponsored students going to British boarding schools). At a special ceremony Pioneer Investments General Manager Roman Pospisil presented a check to Zdenka Almerová, of the Open Society Foundation Prague, to sponsor two ASSIST students: Sára Foitová and Eliska Zoubková. Zdenka has been very successful in securing support for our students, including securing a donation last year from the American Embassy in Prague.
ASSIST Web Site Receives Pro Bono Makeover
Over the past year, the ASSIST web site was transformed from a modest presence to a striking and highly functional strategic tool. This was only accomplished through the expert services of PAID, inc., which undertook the project on a pro bono basis. ASSIST was introduced to PAID by Andrew Pilaro, who serves on both Boards.
Paid provided the initial web development and will continue to manage the site as part of a program offered to educational communities which helps them better interact with current students, faculty and alumni. Through this program, organizations like ASSIST can perform key business tasks, enhance their efficiency and fully present their professional side as established, respected business entities.
Paid, Inc. COO Richard Rotman comments, “We help our celebrity and sports clients leverage the Internet in a myriad of ways to build their brands and connect with their fans, in much the same way that educational organizations need to reach out to their students, alumni and other audiences. It is a natural extension to utilize our skills and resources to provide these same services to educational organizations, particularly if we can do so in a way that enhances education and fosters global interaction and communication. We see multiple synergies where educational organizations can utilize our proprietary ticketing system, website development, online community management, online branding and our suite of ecommerce services that includes storefronts, shopping carts, shipping calculation and fulfillment.”
Feedback from Alumni and other friends of ASSIST has been strongly positive. We are most appreciative of Rich Rotman, Mike Sarro and their colleagues at PAID for their enthusiastic, creative and professional work.
