Heelraisers Society
Student Giving Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Office of Development?
What is the Carolina Annual Fund?
Why does UNC need private money if it is a public University?
I already pay tuition, why should I give UNC more money?
What will my gift of $20.08-$20.11, or even $250, really do?
Why is annual giving participation important?
What do I get for giving to Carolina?
What is Bell Ringers, how do I become a member and what do I get in return?
What is the Senior Campaign and why should I give?
What do I get for giving to the Senior Campaign?
What is the Office of Development?
The Office of Development is the department that is charged with raising additional funding for UNC through outside, private sources. They develop relationships with individuals such as alumni, parents, students, faculty/staff, and friends of UNC as well as corporations and foundations. Through those relationships, the individuals and groups remain involved with Carolina and are able to determine ways and means of supporting the University philanthropically, both to make charitable contributions to a place they care about as well as to support the mission and goals of the institution.
What is the Carolina Annual Fund?
The Annual Fund is a department within the Office of Development that is charged with raising annual, recurring private support at any gift level from alumni, parents, students, faculty/staff and friends of UNC.
Why does UNC need private money if it is a public University?
Funding from the state provides the same percentage of the University’s annual revenue as private support – 24%. In our quest to be the #1 public University in the nation, UNC simply needs more funding than the state can provide in order to support all the faculty and student programs, research, technology, building and innovation that it is going to take in order for us to reach our goal.
I already pay tuition, why should I give UNC more money?
Tuition and fees provide about 10% of UNC-Chapel Hill’s annual revenue. As it is with state funding, the University relies on private support to help fill the gaps where financial support is needed but can’t be provided by state funding and tuition and fees.
What will my gift of $20.08-$20.11, or even $250, really do?
All gifts make a difference. Even gifts that may seem small to you will combine with similar gifts from tens of thousands of other students, alumni, parents and friends of the University to create impact. Last year, the Carolina Annual Fund raised over $5 million from over 30,000 donors. Those donors may have thought their gifts were small, but when combined, they were able to provide a lot of support for Carolina.
Why is annual giving participation important?
In addition to there being power in numbers (see response to “What will my gift of $20.08 really do?), participation in giving by alumni helps UNC receive funding from other sources. Corporations and foundations look at alumni participation in giving as an indicator of confidence in and support of the institution. Seeing that alumni have enough confidence to support UNC will help encourage outsides sources to provide funding as well. Additionally, the alumni participation figure weighs into the U.S. News and World Report’s annual ranking of national universities.
What do I get for giving to Carolina?
Aside from the wonderful feeling you get any time you make a charitable contribution and knowing that you did something to make an impact at a place you care about, all student donors will receive a hand-signed thank you note from the Office of Development and a Heelraisers Student Giving Society decal exclusively available through the Office of Development. Donors will also be recognized in the online and printed honor rolls and will receive occasional invitations to special campus events.
What is the Heelraisers Student Giving Society, how do I become a member and what do I get in return?
The Heelraisers Society is the recognition society for student donors. All you need to do to be recognized is to make a gift to academics at UNC. Members, in addition to receiving the sense of pride one gets when making a charitable contribution to an area they care about, will receive an annual Heelraisers Student Giving Society decal exclusively available through the Office of Development. Donors will also be recognized in the online and printed honor rolls and will receive occasional invitations to special campus events.
What is Bell Ringers, how do I become a member and what do I get in return?
The Carolina Bell Ringers Society is a recognition society within the Annual Fund which recognizes our loyal, annual donors. To become a member, a donor must make a gift in two or more consecutive years to UNC, showing their loyal support as an annual contributor. Members receive an annual Bell Ringers decal and are listed in the online Bell Ringers honor roll.
What is the Senior Campaign and why should I give?
The Senior Campaign is the united effort in students’ senior year at Carolina, led by the class officers and marshals, in which seniors donate philanthropic gifts to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Donors should participate to show their appreciation for what the University has given them, to support the area(s) that means the most to them, and because they understand that private support contributes 24% of UNC-Chapel Hill’s annual revenue and they want to be a part of that impact.
What do I get for giving to the Senior Campaign?
Aside from the wonderful feeling you get any time you make a charitable contribution and knowing that you did something to make an impact at a place you care about, all senior donors will receive a hand-signed thank you note from the Office of Development. All senior donors will also receive a Class of 2008 decal. Donors of $20.08 or more will also receive a Tar Heel lapel pin to wear on their graduation robe (and anywhere else in the future) to denote their participation in the campaign. These gifts are exclusively available through the senior campaign. Donors will also be recognized in the online and printed honor rolls.
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