Appealing Messages

David Lindholm (MBA 1959, AMP 100, 1987) If there’s a way to capture the attention and interest of his Class of 1959 Section C classmates, David Lindholm will find it—and he has, through a series of cleverly written and informative letters sent each spring and fall since he became section fund chair in 2009. As a result, he has achieved a 31 percent increase in Section C’s annual participation.

Thayer and Joe O’Brien

Photo by Neal Hamberg

Thayer and Joe O’Brien (MBA 1992) When making philanthropic decisions, Thayer and Joe O’Brien have two criteria. First, “we are interested in supporting those institutions that were formative in shaping who we are,” says Joe, and, second, “we want to support organizations that make a difference in the lives of others.” Given that HBS meets both criteria, the O’Briens are committed not only to supporting HBS, but to inspiring others to do so. Joe recently served as Reunion Participation Chair for his 20th Reunion, which set a record with 74 percent of the class making a gift.

Donor Spotlights

David Ott (MBA 1992) Investor David Ott understands the role that seed capital can play in taking good ideas to the next level. Ott, advisory director with Viking Global Investors based in New York City, has made a gift to the Dean’s Fund for the past 13 years, knowing that the investment will support important ideas and initiatives at HBS as they arise.

John Hansen and Katherine Vogelheim

Photo by Neal Hmberg

John Hansen (MBA 1985) and Katherine Vogelheim Inspired by Dean Nohria’s vision for the School, John Hansen and his wife, Katherine Vogelheim, recently made a generous commitment of support to the Dean’s Fund. “In a short time, the Dean and his team have taken the leading business school in the world and dared to make it better,” say the couple, who are members of the Board of Dean’s Advisors. “We are confident our support will fuel more innovation at HBS.”

Outstanding Results!

Thanks to the generosity of almost 12,000 alumni and friends—and the help of more than 1,000 dedicated volunteers—our fundraising in fiscal year 2012 was a tremendous success. Here are a few highlights from the year, which ended officially on June 30, 2012.

• Dean’s Fund: $18.8 million (up 13% from FY 2011)
• Total Gifts & Pledges: $129 million (up 68%)
• 1,138 first-time donors (up 26%)
• 11 MBA classes set new giving records

An Amazing Year!

To see a brief video showing how the School advanced its key priorities— the “5 i’s”— during fiscal year 2012, visit www.alumni.hbs.edu/AmazingYear

Post a Comment