Class Agent Guide 2016-2017 CLASS AGENT GUIDE 2016-2017

Thank you for volunteering as a Class Agent!

As a volunteer for Choate Rosemary Hall’s Class Agent Program, you are a valued member of our fundraising team. You have a specific--and crucial--job ahead: reaching out to classmates and increasing alumni participation; we know you Being a class agent are up to the challenge! We are coming off a hugely successful 2015-2016, and we expect an even more amazing 2016-2017, allows me to give so let’s get started! Go Choate! back to Choate, and it helps me Remember, we are here to help. Please do not hesitate to stay connected to contact us if you have any questions or concerns---or are some of my favorite looking for an added bit of inspiration! people---my classmates. Thank you!

Onyx Ramirez ‘13

Priti Kapoor Coordinator of Volunteer Programs Choate Rosemary Hall [email protected] (203) 697-2353

For more information on the Class Agent Program as well as helpful resources, visit http://www.choate.edu/alumni/volunteers/class-agent-materials/index.aspx.

1. CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL

The Four Goals of a Class Agent

Class Agents are the primary contact between Choate Rosemary Hall alumni and the School. Try it, you won’t regret it. It is Your role in the Class Agent Program is to help us to fun and the achieve four main goals: camaraderie grows. Keep your 1. Increase class participation approach friendly and informal. 2. Increase overall alumni participation You and your 3.  Increase the amount of giving from alumni classmates will reap a bountiful 4.  Keep alumni connected to and engaged harvest. with the School John Russell ‘46

Did You Know? Choate has students from over 38 states and 42 countries. Enrollment: 862, with 642 boarders and 220 day students Students of color: 31% International students: 18%

2. CLASS AGENT GUIDE 2016-2017

Class Agent To-Do List

LEAD  by example: make your own gift before you reach out to classmates.

CONTACT 10-15 classmates.

SHARE Choate Rosemary Hall news with your classmates.

Being a Class Agent ASK each classmate for an Annual Fund gift. has provided me with THANK those who give! a great opportunity to keep in touch with my STAY in touch with Priti Kapoor: classmates! [email protected]; (203) 697-2353

Jill Stauffer Cobbs ’75 Participation Really Matters!

• 3,716 AF donors gave a gift of $250 or less in FY2016

• In fiscal year 2016, Gifts less than $100 totaled $126,083

• The number of alumni who give to the Annual Fund at Choate Rosemary Hall is significantly fewer than the number of alumni who give to the Deerfield, Exeter, and Andover.

Did You Know? Opening in 2017: St. John Hall, 37,000 square feet dedicated to student life. A state-of-the-art student center with student gathering space, meeting rooms, offices, School store and cafe.

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How to Make The Ask

Hints for Writing Emails:

• Choose a subject line carefully, for example: Being a Class Agent “Susan – Question from Choate” is a blast. You get a • Include the direct link to online giving (www.choate.edu/donate). great partner and • Use personal, friendly, conversational language. support system in the • Thank for past support (where applicable). Development Office, • Include the ask amount provided on the contact sheet, or suggest but you also get the a narrow range. autonomy to bring your own vision for your class to life. I Hints for Making Phone Calls: would recommend it to anyone who has a • Start by talking about the School and sharing current information. passion for Choate, • Thank for past support (where applicable). for people, for • Ask for the amount provided on the contact sheet, or suggest friendship. a narrow range. Spencer Penhart ’95

Did You Know? In the past 10 years, the Choate Debate Team has captured four state titles.

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Suggestions for Responding to Common Objections

Objection: “I have a child in college.”

Reply: “It’s clear that education is important to you. By giving to Representing Choate the Annual Fund, you help Choate provide the best possible as a Class Agent gives education to its students.” me an opportunity to keep in touch with my Objection: “Choate doesn’t need my money.” classmates and meet Reply: “A full 33 percent of our students receive financial aid. Your other alums. Choaties gift to the Annual Fund helps students who would not otherwise are a distinctive group be able to receive a Choate Rosemary Hall education.” of intelligent and curious individuals Objection: “I don’t know why you think I can afford a gift who approach the of $XXX.” challenges and Reply: “Gifts of all sizes are important, and participation really adventures of their lives matters. What size gift can you afford?” with humor and zest; it’s an inspiring and Objection: “I don’t feel comfortable giving over the phone/I’d energizing network rather send a check/Now is not a good time.” to tap into. Reply: “Please visit www.choate.edu/donate for Adrienne Neff ‘87 other ways to give. Thank you so much for your participation.”

Did You Know? The Cameron and Edward Lanphier Center opened in 2015 for Mathematics and Computer Science, and is home to Choate’s first i.d.Lab.

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Increasing the Impact of a Gift

Your classmates can increase the impact of their gifts in a couple ways. If it seems appropriate to do so, encourage them to consider the following:

Corporate matching gifts Matching gifts can increase the size of a gift. Check the link found at the following location to see if a classmate’s employer participates in a matching gift program: www.choate.edu/donate. Being a Class Agent is Recurring gifts my way to honor what A recurring gift is an easy way to increase giving because the Choate experience small monthly donations can add up to a larger Annual Fund gift! Classmates can set up a recurring gift here: has given me, and it’s www.choate.edu/donate. my favorite excuse for calling the friends who made School so special. Leadership-Level Giving Like boarding school friendships, the Choate Your classmates may be interested in giving at levels that afford alumni network is about them recognition and membership in The 1890 Society: invaluable connections.

Trustees Circle: $50,000 or more Dianne Gremillion ’12 President’s Circle: $25,000-$49,999 Mellon Society: $15,000-$24,999 St. John Society: $10,000-$14,999 Ruutz-Rees Society: $5,000-$9,999 Ayres Society: $2,500-$4,999

Did You Know? Choate awarded $11.7 million in financial aid to 35% of the student body for the 2016-17 school year.

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Ways to Give

• Online www.choate.edu/donate

• Telephone The Class Agent Program (203) 697-2517 is a wonderful way for • Mail alumni to stay engaged Choate Rosemary Hall Annual Fund both with the School 333 Christian Street and with classmates. In Wallingford, CT 06492 addition to strengthening Choate’s alumni network, the program facilitates Classmates can also gift mutual funds and securities to the an ongoing conversation School. Please refer donors interested in these options to Ana Aleman, Securities Coordinator, at (203) 697-2387 between alumni and the or [email protected]. School about Choate’s enduring pursuit of Please direct individuals interested in discussing options for excellence and about how planned giving to Barry Tomlinson Director Planned Giving, at the School can define the [email protected] or (203) 697-2071. future of education.

Mac Bartels ’04

Did You Know? Andrew Mellon Library has more than 168,000 titles and more than 100,000 eBooks and over 50 academic databases.

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Contacts

Priti Kapoor Coordinator of Volunteer Programs [email protected]; (203) 697-2353

Heather Cordes By serving as Class Agent Director of the Annual Fund for the past 30 years, [email protected]; (203) 697-2446 I’ve been able to not only keep in contact with my Carolyn Garibaldi classmates but also be a Assistant Director, Annual Fund part of the greater Choate [email protected]; (203) 697-2517 Rosemary Hall community. The energy and excitement Alex Murenia ’71 on campus is amazing even Leadership Gift Officer, Annual Fund [email protected]; (203) 697-2378 participating from afar. Connie Ferguson ’69

Chris Reichart Associate Director, Annual Fund [email protected]; (203) 697-2553

Did You Know? Choate offers seven different languages, Arabic, Chinese, French, Latin, Spanish, Greek and Italian.

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Important Dates

January 1-May 30 Contact your classmates Did You Know? May 12-14 A selection of this Reunion Weekend year’s college choices May 28 Bates Commencement Boston College Boston University June 30 Brown Official close of the 2017 fiscal year Columbia Cornell Georgetown Social Media George Washington Harvard Norte Dame Website: http://www.choate.edu/alumni/volunteers/ NYU class-agent-materials/index.aspx Pomona Princeton Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoChoate U of Chicago www.facebook.com/Choate.Alumni.Association Wesleyan Twitter: twitter.com/gochoate Williams Yale Instagram: instagram.com/gochoate

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/choaterosemary

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