Donor Uses Reunion Giving to Encourage Philanthropy

"What commitment are you going to make?"

Whenever Ben Carlson found himself away from his alma mater, a chance phone call would bring him right back to Earlham College. Because of those phone calls, he has been advising the Earlham community for most of his life as an alumnus, administrator and donor. Even to this day, nearly 51 years after he earned his degree, he is giving valuable advice to the Earlham community.

Following his graduation in 1958, Ben was pursuing his Master of Business Administration degree when a phone call came from Darrell Beane, dean of admissions at the time. Darrell wanted Ben back in Richmond for a position in the Admissions Office; so even though he was only 18 months into his graduate education, Ben agreed to return to the College temporarily.

"I said I'd come back for a couple of years," Ben said, amused. "And then they asked me to be alumni secretary. Five years later they asked me to be the College's general secretary." Before long, a couple of years became 10.

When Ben left Earlham for a second time, to pursue a career in the business field, it wasn't long before other phone calls came —  "I was asked to do various volunteer activities," he explained. "Speak to a class, serve on an advisory board, help plan a reunion, and, of course, help with fund raising. I ended up being on the President's Circle Committee for 14 years, longer than any other charter member."

Ben also co-chaired the fundraising efforts for his class reunions, advising his fellow classmates about reunion giving. Their class fund was near and dear to his heart. During his time as alumni secretary in the late 1970s, he had helped the parents of a recently deceased classmate set up a fund in remembrance of their son. He supported it when he gave gifts to Earlham, and eventually it evolved into the Class of 1958 Memorial Scholarship.

"I encouraged my classmates to give gifts to this fund for our 25th and 40th class reunions," Ben said. "We could support it and the College at the same time."

In 2008, his class reunited once more — this time for their 50-year reunion.

"The reunion was great! We had 112 in our graduating class and 47 came back. The 50th reunion is special — there's something important about reconnecting at that time in your life. We agreed we're going to try to get together again in five years."

Again, Ben urged his classmates to support their class funds, and to consider including those funds in their estate planning. His fellow alumni responded by boosting the Class of 1958 Memorial Scholarship to more than $45,000. Overall, the class raised more than $97,000 in honor of their reunion.

After years of offering guidance to his peers about giving to Earlham, it should come as no surprise that he has a message for all his fellow alumni.

"One of the things I say to people who went to Earlham, is that we all benefited from mostly unknown folks who contributed to the College before or while we were there," Ben said. "Each generation needs to step up and take on a responsibility for maintaining Earlham College as a significant learning center. It's what it takes to keep it all going.

"People must recognize what Earlham College means — to its students and to society. As classes march across that stage at graduation, they need to understand that responsibility. If the College should send students off without a strong sense of philanthropy, then we've failed."

Currently, Earlham students are involved in and made aware of philanthropy to the College many times during their tenure on campus. Every year, students take time to call alumni and donors as part of the College's Phone-a-thon fundraising efforts. Still others volunteer their time to serve on the Senior Gift committee, urging their peers to consider their first gift to Earlham. Each year, students enjoy an ice cream social at "Bond Around The Heart," an event funded completely by donor dollars. And, in more recent years, the Development Office has reached out to the student population to recognize "End-of-Tuition Day," the day donor dollars begin supporting the students' educations.

Even with this increased focus on philanthropy, Ben still believes alumni should go one step farther in their efforts toward their alma mater.

"I would tell every alum to sit down and ask this question: What commitment are you going to make at the current stage of your life? The minimum to get by, or something more thoughtful? Those of us who can, need to step up."