Welcome to the 2008-09 report for Partners in Annual Giving.

This past year 11,967 alumni, parents, friends of the college, and corporations contributed $3.76 million to Partners in Annual Giving, the college’s annual fund. This report documents those acts of stewardship and reminds us all of the power of philanthropy to sustain and nourish the organizations we care most about. On behalf of St. Olaf students, staff, and faculty, I extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who gave to Partners this year.

This has been a challenging year for the world economy, and we know that members of the St. Olaf family have not been immune to the vagaries of the markets, the decline in home values, the rise in unemployment, and other consequences of the economic downturn. Yet even in this difficult environment, Oles have been steadfast in their support of their college. They know that tuition and fees paid by St. Olaf students do not provide sufficient revenue to operate the college each year. Their gifts have supported the college’s financial aid program, helped pay the salaries of our faculty and staff, enhanced student life, purchased equipment, and helped maintain our beautiful campus.

As a St. Olaf student I received a rigorous intellectual training, probed questions of faith and value in a community replete with resources for the spiritual questor, and made lifelong friendships. Like other donors to the annual fund, I give to Partners in thanksgiving for those experiences and out of a desire to ensure that they are available to others today. If you are not a regular donor to Partners, please take that step now by visiting stolaf.edu/giving. Your gift will help us close the gap between what we can reasonably expect students and their families to pay in tuition and fees and the true cost of the education we provide. Your gift to Partners will open doors and enhance possibilities for students today and in the future.

I hope that you read this report with admiration for the philanthropy of others and with pleasure at the opportunity you have had to support St. Olaf. We encourage you to continue that support in 2009-10, and we thank you for your care for St. Olaf.

Sincerely,

David R. Anderson ’74
President, St. Olaf College