Fundraising Volunteer Roles

There are hundreds of alumni who engage in this critical work. Thank you for being one of them! Below is more information on each of the fundraising roles.

Use the “On This Page” menu to navigate quickly to between the roles.

Class Agent

Class agents play an important role in the success of Middlebury’s annual giving effort. Here’s what we need you to do:

Get your classmates excited about Middlebury.

• Get in touch with your classmates via email, text, phone, mail, or social media. Share news about the College or alumni events throughout the year.
• Be an advocate for alumni. If classmates need information you don’t have, encourage them to be in touch with Middlebury, or reach out to your staff contact on their behalf.
• Be social. One of the best ways to create a sense of community and excitement is through your class Facebook group. Visit go.middlebury.edu/fbgroups to find your class.

Help classmates understand the impact of alumni giving.

• Lead by example: make your gift to Middlebury early (by December 31 would be great!).
• Contact your assignments and encourage them to make a gift this year. Use the Volunteer Portal on GiveCampus to send emails, track your work, and communicate with Annual Giving staff.
• Provide updates on your progress, communicate classmates’ questions, and report outdated or updated contact information to Annual Giving staff.
• Say “thank you” to your classmates when they give. 
• Keep donor information confidential.

Lead Class Agent

Thank you for stepping up to lead your class! Lead class agents ensure the success of their class agents and the overall fundraising effort within their class. Here’s what we need you to do:

Partner with Annual Giving staff.

• Reply to your Annual Giving contact when email requests arrive, even if you can’t participate (a quick “got it!” ensures that our message has landed). 
• Reply all (including all agents in your class) to appeals and prompts from staff. 

Check in regularly with your roster of class agents.

• Reach out to your team of agents in advance of key annual campaigns to encourage outreach and see who plans to help. 
• Manage assignment lists, with help from Annual Giving staff, to ensure that class agents know who to contact. 
• Track giving status of agents, making sure that fundraising volunteers are also donors.

Communicate with classmates and donors.

• Forward fundraising messages to assigned classmates and non-donors with a “Hope you saw this!” 
• Create your OWN message (Annual Giving staff can provide lists and templates). 
• Thank donors and fellow volunteers via email, text, letter, or phone. 

Be visible to your class.

• Attend volunteer strategy sessions throughout the year. 
• Host, suggest, or promote regional in-person events.  
• Share class news and updates outside of fundraising campaigns.  
• Post a matching gift or challenge (of ANY size) during campaigns.

Get your classmates excited about Reunion.

• Get in touch with your classmates via mail, email, phone, text, or social media. Provide Reunion updates and share news about the College throughout the year.
• Help us track down “lost” classmates.
• Engage with Middlebury. Participate in virtual and regional events for volunteer alumni.
• Be an advocate for alumni. If classmates need information you don’t have, encourage them to be in touch with Middlebury, or reach out to your staff contact on their behalf.
• Create a sense of community and excitement about Reunion through your class Facebook group. To find your class, visit go.middlebury.edu/fbgroups.
• Organize virtual or in-person “mini-Reunions” in the months before Reunion to build excitement and boost attendance at Reunion Weekend.
• Register for Reunion early, then encourage classmates to do so. Publicize the names of those attending.

Plan Reunion activities for your class.

• Generate ideas for in-person and virtual activities, such as hiking, tennis, faculty lectures, alumni panel discussions, or talks led by classmates.
• Identify a classmate to write about your class and its time at Middlebury and read those remarks at Convocation.
• Personalize the class lounges with memorabilia, music, or festive decorations, and organize social time there.

Members of College staff and Reunion volunteers will focus on planning one or two class-specific, on-campus activities. Middlebury staff and Reunion volunteers may also work to plan one or two class-specific virtual events throughout the year in order get the class connected and begin the celebration before June!

Support your class Reunion gift.

• Lead by example: Make your own gift to Middlebury early (by December 31 would be great!).
• Contact your assignments and encourage them to support your class Reunion gift. Use the Volunteer Portal on GiveCampus to send emails, track your work, and communicate with Annual Giving staff.
• Provide updates on your progress, communicate classmates’ questions, and share news of outdated or updated contact information to Reunion staff. 
• Say “thank you” to your classmates when they give.
• Keep donor information confidential.

Reunion Committee Chair / Reunion Lead Agent

Thank you for stepping up to lead your class! Reunion committee chairs are communicators; they keep fellow volunteers informed and engaged. They are committee ambassadors, communicating College information and class-specific goals. Reunion chairs also work with College staff to manage the committee volunteers, ensure 100 percent committee giving, and help alumni understand how important their annual giving is to current students and to the continued success of Middlebury. Here’s what we need you to do:

Partner with Annual Giving staff.

• Strategize with your Annual Giving contact around committee recruitment and goals. 

• Reply to your Annual Giving contact when email requests arrive, even if you can’t participate (a quick “got it!” ensures that our message has landed). 
• Reply all (including all agents in your class) to appeals and prompts from staff. 

Check in regularly with Reunion volunteers.

• Reach out to your team of Reunion volunteers throughout the year to encourage participation in the planning process, particularly during major fundraising campaigns. 
• Manage assignment lists, with help from Annual Giving staff, to ensure that we are reaching as many classmates as possible. 
• Track giving status of Reunion volunteers, making sure that committee members are also donors. 

Communicate with classmates and donors.

• Spread the word about Reunion through social media, email, and text.  

• Forward fundraising messages to assigned classmates and non-donors with a “Hope you saw this!” 
• Create your own message to encourage attendance and giving (Annual Giving staff can provide lists and templates). 
• Thank donors and fellow volunteers via email, text, letter, or phone.

Be visible to your class.

• Attend volunteer strategy sessions throughout the year. 
• Host, suggest, or promote regional in-person events.  
• Share class news and updates outside of fundraising campaigns.  
• Post a matching gift or challenge (of ANY size) during campaigns.