The Campaign Volunteer Leadership Forum brought together over eighty alumni, parents, and friends who volunteer for the For Humanity campaign. On campus, the group heard from university leaders about the impact of the For Humanity campaign, and they left inspired and energized to continue serving as Yale ambassadors for the campaign’s final year.

The two-day event on March 6 and 7 included presentations from campaign leaders, panel discussions with volunteers and deans, and remarks by President Maurie McInnis. Joan O’Neill, vice president for alumni affairs and development and Eugénie Gentry, associate vice president for development and campaign director, opened the forum and shared an update about the progress of the campaign, which has now raised more than $6 billion.

“The theme of this forum is inspiring impact, and you are part of the inspiring,” Gentry said. “You inspire us, and we are grateful for your support of Yale and your efforts to ensure the For Humanity campaign is a success.” 

Amplifying Student Support

Financial aid emerged as a recurring theme over the course of the two days, as Yale closes in on its $1.2 billion goal for student scholarships and fellowships university-wide, a subset of For Humanity’s overall goal of $7 billion.

With the campaign’s final phase underway, speakers stressed the importance of continued investment in scholarships to expand access to a Yale education.

On a panel led by Provost Scott Strobel, Deborah Berke, the Edward P. Bass Dean of Yale School of Architecture, told the audience that her school aims to become debt free, a critical component of the school’s goal to make the field more diverse and inclusive.

Over the course of For Humanity, Yale School of Architecture has more than tripled the amount of financial aid it awards to students each year, from $3 million at the start of the campaign to more than $9 million this year, Berke said. Donor giving has been key in enabling this expanded support.

Nancy J. Brown ’81, the Jean and David W. Wallace Dean of Yale School of Medicine, and Heather Gerken, dean of Yale Law School, also shared stories of how donor-funded scholarships have made a difference for students at their respective schools.

The three deans also spoke of the importance of funding for faculty, which has enabled Yale to recruit and retain top talent. 

Campus-Wide Impacts

Volunteers spent an afternoon visiting spaces on campus where they could see some of the campaign’s impact firsthand. Some toured the Living Village, a completely sustainable residence hall under construction at Yale Divinity School. Others visited the David Geffen School of Drama, which will have a new facility in the coming years thanks to the campaign. Activities also included tours of the recently renovated Linonia & Brothers Reading Room in Sterling Memorial Library, Yale Quantum Institute, Yale University Art Gallery, Payne Whitney Gymnasium, and the Schwarzman Center, as well as a hands-on exploration of AI in architecture. 

Volunteers as Storytellers

The president, provost, and deans highlighted the crucial role that volunteers play as champions of Yale and thanked them for showcasing the university’s contributions to the wider world. 

Campaign co-chair Randy Nelson ’85 urged volunteers to share the powerful and positive impact of higher education.

“We need to go out into our communities, with our classmates and with people who are not Yale-affiliated, and tell them about all the teaching and research taking place on this campus,” he said. “Our students are gaining knowledge to address challenging problems facing the world, our researchers are developing potential cures for life-threatening diseases, and our faculty and curators are deepening our understanding of history and culture. We are ambassadors for the university, and we have an important story to tell.”

Over the course of the two days, one thing was clear: the Yale community is energized and ready to push For Humanity over the finish line.