Mission Statement:

Institutional Advancement has been defined as “all activities and programs undertaken by an institution to develop understanding and support from all its constituencies in order to achieve its goals in securing such resources as students, faculty, and dollars.”  The Division of Institutional Advancement at Bennett College is specifically charged with cultivating relationships and raising funds from private and public sources to support the academic priorities of the College.  Staff in the Division is responsible for alumnae relations, advancement services, the Parents Association, UNCF and all other fundraising activities.

Advancement Services – This area supports the operation of Alumnae Relations, fundraising, Communications, and other units involved with the external mission of the College by managing the donor/friend/alumnae database, conducting donor research, processing gifts and assisting with stewardship and donor tracking.
Alumnae Relations – The Alumnae Relations Office exists to provide diverse and quality programming for alumnae, and to provide opportunities for alumni to engage in a lifetime of service including student recruitment and financial support to their alma mater.

Annual Giving/UNCF – Gifts to the Annual Fund, many of them unrestricted, provides the College with resources to support academic programs, student scholarships, technology upgrades and facilities enhancement. As a UNCF affiliated institution, Bennett College receives support from their national fundraising efforts.
Sponsored Programs - The Office of Sponsored Programs provides support to faculty and other College personnel in obtaining and administering external grant and contract funds.  Sponsored Programs is responsible for protecting Bennett’s interests through the review of proposals to external funding agencies, contract and grant award review and negotiation, administration of funds, policy and procedure initiation and implementation, and serving as a liaison to the funding agencies and auditors. 

The Bennett College National Alumnae Association – The Alumnae Association works with staff in the Advancement Division to build and nurture lifelong bonds to Bennett by sponsoring meetings, events activities and by keeping Alumnae informed and engaged with the College.  The Association supports the College in many ways including recruiting students, providing scholarship funds for students and with service projects.

The Parents' Association - The Bennett Parents' Association (BPA) is celebrating its second year as a reorganized component of the College. With support and guidance from Bennett staff the BPA is transitioning from a group of parents who meet once a year to a more viable entity focused on supporting Bennett’s strategic plan.
According to its constitution and by-laws, the BPA’s purposes focus on communication about the College, and general parental support. Specifically, the BPA is charged with:

1)  Acting as a liaison between the College and parents to develop a closer relationship.
2)  Interpreting the College’s activities to the parents.
3)  Interpreting the College to a wider audience of prospective students and friends.
4)  Encouraging parents’ participation in the College’s fund raising activities, and
5)  Encouraging parents to transmit their opinions and suggestions to the College.
For more information, call (336) 517-2247 or e-mail sjohnson-walker@bennett.edu.

Planned Giving – We invite our alumni and friends to make planned gifts in support of Bennett College: that is, the commitment is made in the present, but the gift is realized in the future.  A planned gift allows you to make a significant impact on the university while receiving tax benefits.  These gifts can include gifts of bequests, retirement funds, stocks and securities, in-kind gifts, charitable remainder trusts, gifts of residual interest and life insurance. If you are considering a planed gift, we recommend you do so in consultation with your financial planner and/or legal counsel.  Our staff is available to provide assistance at (336) 517-2247.