Kellogg Raises Record-Breaking Annual Fund for the Fourth Consecutive Year

Thanks to a community of committed donors, Kellogg’s Annual Fund continues to achieve unprecedented success. This year’s $7.8 million accomplishment surpasses a $7.5 million goal, reflects a 31 percent leap over last year’s record-breaking $6 million and builds momentum on four years of significant and consistent growth.

These funds have an immediate and profound impact, supporting essential areas such as scholarships for students, industry-leading research and diverse strategic initiatives that drive curricular innovation and expand Kellogg’s global network.

Annual Fund dollars make it possible for outstanding students like Jacqueline Perlman ’17 to attend Kellogg. A social impact entrepreneur, Perlman launched a program called My Favorite Outfit that uses fashion to change the lives of at-risk middle-school and high-school girls. With individualized mentoring and skill-building, My Favorite Outfit boosts girls’ confidence and talent, and paves college and career pathways.

Contributions to the Annual Fund also enable Kellogg to attract renowned thought leaders like Assistant Professor Elena Prager who joined the Kellogg faculty this year, and whose research in industrial organization and health economics is answering important policy questions about medical insurance and health care provision.

“We are so proud and grateful for Kellogg’s deeply-committed donors whose gifts make this kind of leadership, innovation and promise possible,” says Christine Feary, director of the Annual Fund. “Last year, Kellogg’s Annual Fund provided scholarships for over 300 students. Funding not only provides individual students with opportunity, it shepherds their impact on 21st century global business.”

Kellogg’s Annual Giving team credits a new endeavor, “Meet Us at A Million: The Kellogg Leadership Circle Challenge,” as key to this year’s success. The Challenge involved 12 alumni donors who came together to raise over $1 million, and then spurred fellow alumni to “meet them at a million.” Between May 21 and June 30 of this year, each donation at the KLC-level ($2,500 and above, $1,000 for recent graduates) was matched.

“We are excited that the Challenge not only raised $2.7 million in just 50 days, but also engaged 400 donors, including 190 new KLC-level donors,” said Christine. Since its launch in 2013, the number of gifts to the Kellogg Leadership Circle has grown by more than 50 percent.

Robust Annual Fund support from Kellogg’s philanthropic community is testimony to the school’s vital culture and collaborative spirit, and reinforces the importance of scholarships for exceptional students, trailblazing faculty, game-changing research and global innovation.

“We are invigorated by the response,” says Katie Taylor, senior director, development operations, “and we have exciting plans for 2016-17 to expand and enrich our capacity to fund these initiatives. We thank our generous donors and look forward to sharing milestones and accomplishments with them in the year to come.”