Throughout West Point’s history, private gifts have played a role in enriching the cadet experience. In the current environment government appropriations are decreasing as the cost of the West Point experience for tomorrow's cadets is steadily increasing. Guaranteeing the margin of excellence for the Corps of Cadets now requires additional private support from all graduates and friends of the Academy. Concurrent with the need to support the Academy is the need to fund the many programs of the Association of Graduates for both cadets and graduates of West Point. These programs, for the most part, are paid for out of the investment income from the AOG Endowment. The endowment must grow if we hope to maintain the current level of support to cadets and graduates. A larger endowment is necessary to keep pace with the current demands and to provide for program development.

» THE ANNUAL DRIVE

There is an annual fund drive, also aimed at providing the margin of excellence for the Corps of Cadets. You will be solicited by the Office of Annual Giving usually in March, July, and November. If you respond to the first solicitation, you will not receive the other two.

The purpose of the Annual Giving Program is to provide unrestricted donations for the Military Academy; encourage graduates and friends of West Point to support the Military Academy on an annual basis; encourage graduates and friends of West Point to increase their level of giving each year; and expand the donor base of the graduates and friends who support the Military Academy.

The unrestricted gift allows the leadership at the United States Military Academy to apply the gift to those needs that have the greatest priority. The funds may be used to supplement a major fund-raising effort by a class or to cover smaller requirements. Supporting the annual drive is simple, just respond to the solicitation. If more information is requested, you can contact LTC E. Duston Saunders ’72, Director, Class and Annual Giving. His phone number is 800 232-4723, ext. 1546, or you can reach him by e-mail at e.duston.saunders@usma.edu.

» MATCHED GIVING

There are many corporations and companies who participate in a matching gift program when their employees make a charitable contribution. If you or your spouse work for, or are retired from, a company with a matching gift program, or if you are uncertain about participation, please check with your human resource or finance department to inquire or obtain a matching gift form. Matching gifts are a great way to significantly increase the value of your gift to West Point. After you obtain and complete your portion of the matching gift form, simply mail it to West Point Fund, Association of Graduates, USMA, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996 and we will apply for your matching gift.

» CLASS GIVING

AOG Major Functions

• Assist class in identifying and voting on appropriate gift options

• Coordinate selected gift(s) with USMA

• Provide fund-raising expertise to help class develop a campaign plan

• Provide administrative support to help class execute the plan

• Track and modify plan as needed

• Coordinate gift presentation and recognition

Keys to a Successful Class Gift Campaign

• Strong leadership from the gift selection chair(s)and fund-raising chair(s)

• Large, active committee(s)

• Numerous opportunities for classmates to participate in every stage of the gift process

• A class-wide vote on the gift

• A well-written case statement, professionally packaged

• Active volunteers who are well-trained to ask for major gifts (this is the most important phase of the entire campaign)

• Active company representatives (at least one per company)

• Regular communication with the entire class (at least twice each year)

• Sufficient lead time before the gift is to be presented

• A strong organizational structure to handle all the administrative tasks

Class Gift “Targets”

The AOG asks classes to consider giving a class gift every 10 years. The 10-year gift cycle shown below is an example of a class that gives a 10th and 20th Reunion gift. The following “targets” are suggested dollar goal ranges for consideration.

• 10th reunion — $200K to $500K





• 20th reunion — $500K to $750K





• 30th reunion — $750K to $1MIL





• 40th reunion — $1MIL to $2.5MIL





• 50th reunion — $1.5MIL to $3MIL

10-Year Gift Cycle

Time period	Activity
10th Reunion	Present class gift
Years 11 – 13	Entire class rests; class leaders encourage class to make regular contributions to West Point Fund unrestricted, the Long Gray Line Endowment, or to continue to make contributions to the class
Year 14	Class leaders decide to pursue a 20th Reunion gift
Year 15	Gift Selection Committee sends ballot of gift options to class
15th Reunion	Voting results announced; selected gift briefed
Years 15 – 20	Fund-raising activity
20th Reunion	Present class gift

Class Gift Campaign Milestones

1. The class leaders decide to pursue presenting a class gift to USMA.

2. The Class Giving Office, AOG, provides the class leader(s) with information on how to conduct a fund drive, what other classes have done, and a suggested dollar range for a goal for the upcoming gift.

3. The class leader(s) identifies chairpersons for Gift Selection and Fund-Raising Committees.

4. The chairpersons form their committees.

5. The Class Giving Office assists the Gift Selection Committee by:

1. identifying USMA-approved gift options,





2. narrowing the gift options to those that appeal to the class,





3. preparing and mailing ballots to classmates, surviving spouses, ex-cadets, and associate classmates,





4. tabulating the voting results, and





5. coordinating with USMA to reserve the selected gift for the class.





6. The Class Giving Office assists the Fund-Raising Committee by:

1. developing and finalizing an overall fund-raising plan,





2. providing information on how to properly ask for donations,





3. identifying major donor prospects,





4. preparing solicitation materials (letters, casebooks, brochures, etc.) for both the major donor prospects and the entire Class, and





5. providing administrative support to conduct mailings, collect contributions, track gifts and pledges, and send pledge reminders.





7. The Fund-Raising Committee holds a planning meeting to accomplish the following:

1. approve the fund-raising plan and timetable,





2. finalize the major donor prospect list of individual solicitors with “ask” amounts,





3. agree on class recognition, if any, for individual donors,





4. review the solicitation process for all three subcampaigns (Major Donor, initial class-wide, and follow-up campaigns), and





5. review and approve the solicitation materials to be used.





8. The Class Giving Office prepares and mails casebook folders to Major Donor prospects.

9. The Fund-Raising Committee conducts the Major Donor solicitation.

10. The Class Giving Office and Fund-Raising Chair review the results of the Major Donor solicitation and adjust the overall fund-raising plan (as needed).

11. The Class Giving Office prepares and mails the class-wide solicitation letter (and brochure, if applicable) to all groups listed in milestone 5.c.

12. The Class Giving Office provides the Fund-Raising Committee with the results of the class-wide solicitation.

13. The Class Giving Office prepares materials to assist the cadet company or regional representatives with their solicitations. This information may include:

1. a cadet company status report of each classmate’s gift, pledge, and/or matching corporate gift,





2. a cadet company address roster with phone number(s) and e-mail addresses,





3. a class fund-raising status report, complete with individual cadet company statistics,





4. a sample form letter which the company representative can tailor as desired, and,





5. information on how to successfully ask for gifts.





14. The cadet company representatives solicit their companymates by telephone, e-mail, mail, or in person.

15. The Class Giving Office provides periodic reports to the Fund-Raising Committee and assists the Fund-Raising Chairperson in preparing a semi-annual letter to the class. This mailing includes an overall status of the fund drive, individual company participation percentages, and possibly another pledge card and return envelope.

16. The Class Giving Office coordinates with USMA for a gift presentation ceremony and for appropriate recognition for the gift. The Class Giving Office also ensures that the Class receives recognition in ASSEMBLY for its generosity.

Please direct any questions about Class Giving to Duston Saunders, Director of Annual and Class Giving, at 800 232-4723, ext. 1546, or e.duston.saunders@usma.edu. You can also contact Maryellen Puciuto '86 at the same 800 number ext. 1565 or by email at maryellen.pucciuto@usma.edu.

» PLANNED GIVING

West Pointers and their families often include the Long Gray Line in their financial and estate plans through their wills or trusts. The AOG gratefully accepts gifts donated through wills or insurance policies, and offers assitance to graduates and their families who want to establish Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Gift Annuities, or to donate to our Pooled Income Fund.

All gifts can be funded with cash, appreciated securities, and/or maketable real property. If you would like to learn about issues related to your individual situation, please call the Director of Planned Giving, Ms. Nancy Calhelha (800) 232-4723 ext. 1527, or send her an email message at Nancy.Calhelha@usma.edu. PLease request general information on planned gifts from the Assistant at (800) 232-4723 ext. 1547.

As a thank you to our planned gift donors, we offer membership in the prestigious Cullum Society to those graduates, their families and friends who include West Point or the Association of Graduates in their estates with a gift of $25,000 or greater. If you think you qualify, and would like to join, please write to us at, Director of Planned Giving, The Association of Graduates, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996-1607.

» BRICK AND PAVER PROGRAM

The Association of Graduates offers a unique opportunity to honor a graduating cadet, a cadet company, a family member, former graduate, a group of graduates in a family, etc., by having their names or other information engraved on a brick or granite paver and installed in one of the walkways surrounding the Alumni Center. All donations for this program helps to support the operation and maintenance of the Herbert Alumni Center and the Association of Graduates.

You can participate for a tax-deductible donation of $500 for a brick or $1,500 for a paver. The 4" x 8" brick will accommodate twelve characters on each of three lines. A larger 8" x 8" paver will accommodate twelve characters on each of six lines. Desktop replicas of the brick or paver are also available for an additional gift of $250 each. The replica is a reproduction of the brick or paver and comes with a handsome wood display stand.

Payments can be spread out over a three-year period, with $170 accompanying your order and $165 paid over two consecutive years. Pavers require three equal payments of $500. To have bricks placed in either the Graduating Class Section or the Graduate and Friends Section, orders must be received by June 1st of the year of graduation. For additional information or to participate in the program, call 1-800-232-4723, ext. 1656. Take your place in history now!

» GIFTS TO THE LONG GRAY LINE ENDOWMENT

Operating expenses and supplies; salaries and benefits for the staff of the Association of Graduates (except for the Office of Development at this time); and alumni support programs are funded primarily from the investment income from the Long Gray Line Endowment. Royalties are received for the affinity programs provided by the AOG. The royalties plus profits from AOG gift shop and ASSEMBLY and the Register of Graduates provide the balance of support for the expenses listed above. Gifts to the Long Gray Line Endowment will help us maintain the current level of support to cadet and graduate programs and allow the expansion of support to you, the individual graduate, your class, and the West Point Society of which you may be a member. Gifts can be made to the Long Gray Line Endowment through the Annual Drive, Class Giving, Planned Giving, or by just sitting down and writing a check. All you have to do is indicate what amount or if the whole gift should be applied to the Long Gray Line Endowment.