AAF Volunteers – Annual Giving

Carleton’s Alumni Annual Fund was established by alumni in 1933 as a way to give back to the College year after year, with unrestricted gifts that support immediate budget needs. Following significant reorganization in 1987–1988, alumni involvement and ownership — exemplified by our highly engaged corps of volunteers — have grown the Fund into an essential form of support for the college.

Volunteer Voices

“I give my time and treasure to Carleton expressly because it is not perfect. I want Carleton to be better today than it was when I was a student. And I want to be a part of making that happen.” — Kevin Hislop, '92

“Every Carleton student and alumnus, not just those who received financial aid, has benefited from the generosity of preceding alumni. That’s why I pay it forward – to ensure students today and in the future can continue to have a rich liberal arts experience in and outside the classroom. With nearly half our alumni making gifts each year we collectively make a real difference.” — Karen Schilling '78

“I am convinced that this is the most important way to support all that I love about Carleton. We may not like to talk about money, but annual alumni donations keep the lights on and open doors for future Carls who couldn’t afford to attend otherwise. This is our legacy — making Carleton available to future students as the generations of Carleton alumni did for us.” — Eryn Deeming Kehe, '96

“Why do some institutions thrive and succeed and others falter? It seems to me that the answer leads to action: Organizations succeed because people help them and advocate for them. That's how I got started in giving.” — Carol Barnett '86