Giving Terminology

Annual Fund Gifts: Gifts that support the current year’s budget, supporting every aspect of Deerfield’s operation including: faculty salaries, scholarships, library acquisitions, technology, athletics, fine arts and more.
Bequests: Assets transferred through a donor’s estate, such as cash gifts set out in a donor’s will. Other bequests include the proceeds of life insurance policies and retirement plans.
Capital Gifts: Gifts are used for such purposes as strengthening the endowment for building or significant renovations, or to create permanent funds that will be invested to produce income for planned expenditures.
Charitable Lead Trust: A gift structure in which the donor removes specified assets from his/her estate (receiving immediate tax savings) and provides the school income from those assets for a period of years. At the end of the gift period, the assets may be returned to the donor or, to a third party.
Charitable Gift Annuities: Contractual agreements in which a donor irrevocably transfers funds or properties to the school. The contributed property becomes an asset of the institution and is overseen within the endowment, and Deerfield pays a fixed sum to the donor and/or another person for life.
Charitable Remainder Trust: A tax-exempt, irrevocable trust in which a donor grants property, investments, or money to the school. The donor continues to use the property or receive income from the investments or money for a specified period, at the end of which, the remainder of the trust goes to the school.
Endowment: A fund, invested to produce income to help offset expenses of the institution.
In-Kind Gifts: Tangible items that the school would otherwise have to purchase but that are instead given to Deerfield as donations, such as artwork, books, sporting equipment or furniture.
Planned Gifts: Gifts that come to the school in the future, or over a period of years, whereby the donor takes a partial tax deduction for the gift and then receives an income stream for a specified term of years in return for the gift to Deerfield.
Pooled Income Funds: A pooled income fund is a fund into which multiple donors contribute for investment. Each donor has a pro rata shared interest of the fund and receives an income. At the end of the donor’s life, his or her interest of the fund is given to the donor’s designated charity.
Life Income Gifts: Gifts such as Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, and Pooled Income Funds that will benefit the school in the future while providing tax benefits and income for the donor immediately and over time.
Matching Gifts: A program in which a corporation or foundation matches gifts to education made by their employees, retirees and directors.
Outright Gifts: Gifts of cash, real estate, securities, and personal property, used to make contributions on an outright basis.
Parents Funds: Gifts from parents of current students (and parents of alumni), which help the school reach its Annual Fund goal each year.
Participation: A measure of how many donors in a specific group have made gifts. Large gifts and small carry equal weight in calculating participation rates.
Restricted Gifts: Gifts designated by the donor for a specified purpose, such as faculty salaries, scholarships or technology.
Senior Parent Program Fund: Gifts from parents of current seniors, used to support capital projects.
Unrestricted Gifts: Gifts that are given with no specific designation, allowing the Board and administration the flexibility to use them to meet the school’s needs as determined by the leadership.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of the Alumni Association?

Upon graduating from Deerfield, alumni enter a diverse network of former Deerfield students. Deerfield alumni have ventured into almost every area of employment, and many are at the top of their respective fields. The advantages of this vast network are numerous and significant, as every member of the Deerfield family receives the following:

Automatic subscription to Deerfield Magazine
Online subscription to the Deerfield Scroll
Access to the Deerfield Mobile App and directory
Invitations to special events both on and off campus
Eligibility for membership in a number of recognition societies

Alumni are also eligible for alumni awards, such as the Ashley Award, Heritage Award, and the Mimi Morsman Award.

As a member of the Alumni Association, do I have dues?

There are no membership fees or dues for members of the Deerfield family, but Deerfield does ask for assistance in a few areas. First of all, in order for Deerfield to have the most up-to-date records possible, we encourage members to keep us apprised of their current contact info. Alumni are also urged to direct all concerns and suggestions regarding Deerfield’s operations through the Executive Committee, the governing body of the Alumni Association. The committee acts as the voice of the alumni body, and works closely with the school administration. In order to keep tuition affordable and the quality of a Deerfield education at its highest, the Academy depends upon the continuing support of alumni and their families. This support can take the form of annual or capital gifts, or time spent volunteering on behalf of Deerfield.

How can I network with other alumni in my area?

There are Deerfield Clubs in many major American cities. Please visit here for more information on specific clubs and their sponsored events.

As a Deerfield alum, am I invited to campus athletic events and performances?

Of course! Be sure to read the latest issue of From Albany Road in your email’s in-box for current news of what is happening on campus. As we also send out periodic invitations, it’s always best to make sure we have your current physical address. And if you do plan on visiting campus, why not tell us ahead of time?

Contact the Office of Advancement

alumni@deerfield.edu
413-774-1474

7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 306
Deerfield, MA 01342