From the desk of Pamella Henson
Dear Eliot Society Volunteer,
Thank you for the time, care, and leadership you bring to the Eliot Society. Your commitment to WashU — and to the alumni, parents, and friends who make up this community — is deeply appreciated.
After many years at Washington University, I have seen firsthand what
makes this community so special. Again and again, I have been reminded
that WashU’s greatest strength is its people — and volunteers like you are
such an important part of that.
Working with Eliot Society volunteers has been one of the great joys of
my time at WashU. Your personal outreach, whether through a thank-you,
a conversation, an event, or an invitation to renew, helps others feel
connected to the university and to the impact of their annual support.
As I prepare to step down from my role at the end of the calendar year, I do
so with great pride in what this community has accomplished and great
confidence in what is ahead. I am also pleased to share that Will Arvin will
become executive vice chancellor for University Advancement on January 4.
Will brings a deep understanding of WashU, a strong commitment to the
university, and a true appreciation for the important role volunteers play
in this work.
Thank you for all you do for WashU. It has been a privilege to work
alongside you, and I am grateful for the many ways you continue to
strengthen this university.
Warmly,
Pamella Henson
Executive Vice Chancellor, University Advancement
Your impact begins here
As an Eliot Society volunteer, you are part of a dynamic group of leaders who are passionate about supporting the WashU Annual Fund. You are at the heart of an exciting mission: to grow and strengthen our community, engage with fellow WashU supporters, and spread the spirit of giving far and wide. You are an ambassador making lasting connections and helping shape the future of WashU through your contributions and leadership.
What you’ll be doing
Energize and grow our community
Help renew and grow membership at all levels, including outreach to current, lapsed and prospective members.
Thank our donors
Express gratitude to existing members for their generous support through GiveCampus and other personal outreach, including calls, emails and notes.
Collaborate and share ideas
Attend meetings with other passionate volunteers.
Promote the power of Eliot Society support
Be a voice of influence! Talk about the importance of the Eliot Society at meetings and events.
Serve as an ambassador
Represent WashU at events, welcoming new members and inspiring alumni and friends to support the Annual Fund.
Be an event host
Consider hosting events to help create memorable experiences for WashU alumni, parents, and friends in your community.
Why your role matters
Make a difference
Your annual gift — and the gifts you help facilitate — are vital to ensuring WashU’s continued excellence.
A welcoming community
You are part of an inspiring network of alumni, parents, students, and friends who are making an impact together.
Building connections
Through access to exciting annual Eliot Society and WashU events, you are building connections with passionate supporters and celebrating all things WashU.
Top 5 things to know this year
FY27 Annual Fund goal: $34 million
FY27 Eliot households goal: 5,270
The Annual Fund is a strategic fundraising priority of With You: The WashU Campaign.
FY26 Annual Fund results: $32.5 million
Sources of Annual Fund Support
in FY26
- 61.2% ($19.9M)Alumni
- 16% ($5.2M)Parents
- 12.6% ($4.1M)Friends
- 6.5% ($2.1M)Foundations
- 2.6% ($856K)Corporations
- 0.9% ($283K)Organizations & Groups
Eliot Society giving levels
When you increase your commitment, you expand your impact — and deepen your engagement with WashU.
Danforth Circle Dean’s Level:
$25,000–$49,999
Danforth Circle Chancellor’s Level:
$50,000–$99,999
Danforth Circle Chair Level:
$100,000+
Eliot Member: $1,000–$2,499
Eliot Fellow: $2,500–$4,999
Eliot Benefactor: $5,000–$9,999
Eliot Patron: $10,000–$24,999
Volunteer outreach throughout the year
Volunteer peer-to-peer outreach is one of the most meaningful ways we connect with Eliot Society members and prospective members. Your personal outreach helps strengthen relationships, thank donors for their support, encourage renewals, and introduce others to the impact of the Eliot Society and the WashU Annual Fund. Throughout the year, we will provide you with outreach opportunities,
suggested messaging, and resources to make connecting with your peers easy and meaningful.
Quarter 1 | Lapsed Outreach
Reconnect with former Eliot Society members and encourage them to renew their support.
Quarter 2 | Renewals
Reach out to current Eliot Society members as they consider their annual gifts.
December 1: Giving Tuesday
Quarter 3 | Acquisition
Help introduce prospective members to the Eliot Society and encourage new membership.
Quarter 4 | Renewals
Reconnect with members who have not yet renewed their support before the end of the fiscal year.
April 7: WashU Giving Day
The importance of the annual fund
The Annual Fund provides essential, expendable income that allows the chancellor and the deans to address urgent needs and to respond to opportunities as they arise. It supports every area on campus, and its funds go to work immediately to help ensure that every student has what they need to do and be their best.
FACT: WashU’s tuition provides approximately 60% of the operating revenue for Danforth Campus schools, while the endowment furnishes about 10% of the university’s operating revenue.
Why it matters: WashU wants to continue to be the best, and that requires considerable expenses. Like any leading university, tuition and endowment alone cannot meet all costs. The Annual Fund, led by the Eliot Society, provides critical resources to make up the 30% gap.
FACT: The Annual Fund provides immediate-use support that is invested in academic programs, scholarship support, student research, faculty resources, and technology.
Why it matters: Endowment funds are restricted in their use. The Annual Fund, however, can be put to use right away to address a variety of needs across campus, like recruiting world-class faculty, supporting interdisciplinary research, bolstering scholarships and internship stipends, or offering seed grants. And so much more.
FACT: In FY26, the Annual Fund
provided $32.5 million for
immediate use to the programs and people that make WashU great. Gifts from Eliot Society members made up 84% of that fund.
Why it matters: WashU’s exceptional education and student experience would not be possible without the Annual Fund, and Eliot Society members contribute the majority of WashU’s Annual Fund dollars. As a result, all students, faculty, and researchers at WashU benefit from Eliot Society support.
Learn more about WashU’s endowment or read Chancellor Andrew D. Martin’s Endowment 101 blog series.
With you, this is what WashU can do
The world needs breakthrough solutions to our biggest challenges. WashU is answering the call — and we invite you to join us. To fulfill the bold promise of societal impact we imagine, the university has launched With You: The WashU Campaign. This multiyear, comprehensive fundraising effort will enable us to implement the blueprint for our future. We seek the partnership and philanthropy of our entire community of alumni, parents, and friends to help us build a better, brighter world.
Thank you for considering a gift to Washington University. You can make your gift in a variety of ways and each contribution makes a lasting impact. Whether you decide to support the WashU Annual Fund or you wish to remember the university in your estate plans, we can help you achieve philanthropic goals.
Online
Use our giving form to make a secure online gift or to make payment on an existing pledge.
By phone
Call toll-free: (877) 215-2727 and choose option 3. WashU accepts Visa®, MasterCard®, Discover® and American Express®. You will need to provide your card number, expiration date, and name as it appears on your card.
By mail
To mail your gift or pledge, print and complete our printable gift form (PDF), include your credit card payment or check payable to Washington University:
MSC 1082-414-2555
Washington University
7425 Forsyth Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63105
FOR OTHER WAYS TO GIVE
Learn about other ways to give:
Corporate Matching Gift Program
Make a gift of appreciated securities
Donor-advised funds
Cash wire transfer
Phonathon pledge
Gifts from your estate and life-income gifts
Washington University license plate program
Tribute giving
UK Friends of WashU
Online resources
MAKE A GIFT Whether your gift is by check, credit card,
phone, or even a corporate match, we make the
transaction easy.
AREAS TO SUPPORT Explore the hundreds of funds that enhance research and learning across seven schools.
ELIOT BENEFITS Find out more about the ways we thank
our Eliot Society members for their generosity and loyalty.
OUR OUTREACH PLATFORM Explore GiveCampus,
our online volunteer platform for peer-to-peer outreach.
FAQS This brief list covers questions you might have.
For more information about the annual fund or the eliot society
- 314-935-7423
- 877-215-2727 ext. 1
- eliotvolunteer@wustl.edu