The Stephen & Mary Birch Fellowship of the Ramapo College Annual Fund
One of the first tasks of the founding members of the Ramapo College Board of Trustees was to find a site for the state's newest public college. After an exhaustive search and lengthy negotiations, the founders secured 300 pastoral acres of the Mahwah, New Jersey Birch Estate, which included the Queen Anne style mansion built on the property in the late 1800s. Today the Ramapo College campus maintains its park-like setting with modern academic buildings that surround the stately Birch Mansion, a reminder of the rich history and intriguing character of New Jersey's Ramapo Valley.
Since construction began on those first academic buildings in 1969, Ramapo College has experienced tremendous growth. As the College embarks on its 40th year, we reach into the heritage of the Ramapo campus to create a meaningful name for the Annual Fund’s donor recognition society. The Stephen & Mary Birch Fellowship was established in honor and gratitude to the family whose history and estate were such integral parts of the College’s beginning. The Birch Mansion was built in the late 1880s by Theodore A. Havemeyer and sold in 1917 to Stephen Birch, the first president of Kennecott Mining.
Leadership gifts to the Stephen & Mary Birch Fellowship provide resources where they are needed most. These donations ensure that scholarships reach deserving students, that new faculty can be hired and that undergraduate student-faculty research is funded.
It is through generous annual gifts of $500 or more that alumni, parents, board members, faculty, staff and friends of the College strongly support Ramapo’s mission.
Demonstrating leadership by making a contribution to the Annual Fund is a powerful, immediate, and essential statement that donors care about the success of future students. Gifts must be unrestricted to the Annual Fund to benefit the College's greatest need.
Gift Societies
Trustees' Society - $5,000 and up
|
Presidents' Council - $2,500 to 4,999
|
Cabinets' Society - $1,000 to $2,499
|
Scholars' Society - $500 to $999
|
Benefits
In addition to the benefits listed, Birch Fellowship members will also receive special recognition in the annual Honor Roll of Donors, a fellowship pin, VIP seating at on-campus events and invitations to receptions held throughout the year. Members meet and network with each other and meet with key faculty and administrators at Ramapo College.
Members of the Trustees’ Society and President’s Council enjoy the privilege of a special relationship with the College’s leadership. In addition to the other benefits of Birch Fellowship membership, active members receive invitations to special evenings hosted by the President and are invited to participate in special campus arts events.
Fellowship Alumni Associate Program
The Alumni Associate Program of The Stephen & Mary Birch Fellowship recognizes the significant charitable contributions made by recent graduates. Associate membership is at the Scholars’ Society level and is based on annual giving and the number of years since graduation from a Ramapo College undergraduate program. Eligible are:
- Alumni (2006-2010) within 0-4 years of graduation who contribute $150 or above
- Alumni (2003-2005) within 5-7 years of graduation who contribute $250 or above
- Alumni (2000 and 2002) within 8-10 years of graduation who contribute $350 or above.
Ways to Give a Leadership Gift
- Split payments are a convenient way to achieve that larger annual gift you may want to make. Consider dividing pledge payments over several months: for example, split a $500 gift into five $100 payments or a $1,000 gift into four $250 payments. Every gift received between July 1 and June 30 is counted.
- Use your credit card to set up automated payments. Decide the amount to be charged and the time frame of your gift. There are no checks to write and no reminder letters.
- If your employer matches gifts, your contribution could double or even triple in value. Many organizations match gifts from their employees, board members and retired employees. Donors are recognized for their total individual contribution plus any matching amount received during the same fiscal year. Contact your company’s Human Resources department to find out if your employer will match your gift this year.
To support the Annual Fund please contact:
Joyce Schader, Associate Director of Annual Giving
Ramapo College of New Jersey
505 Ramapo Valley Road
Mahwah, New Jersey 07430
(201) 684-7141; jschader@ramapo.edu
Lancaster Room/Birch Mansion
