Anonymous Gift Launches $3M Challenge Fund for Radcliffe

Radcliffe recently unveiled The Radcliffe 21st Century Challenge Fund. An anonymous donor, who wants to encourage philanthropy toward the objectives of The Campaign for Radcliffe, has given $3 million to establish the fund.

"Radcliffe is in the midst of the most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history," said Linda Wilson, President of Radcliffe College. "We are particularly pleased by the generous commitment of this benefactor to encourage both women and men to support the mission of advancing society by advancing women.

"This donor believes in Radcliffe's mission and wants to support our creativity and well-recognized leadership role on an important social frontier," Wilson said. "The Radcliffe 21st Century Challenge Fund will provide necessary and valuable flexibility in addressing emerging issues related to our mission."

Simultaneously, five women with Harvard ties, in partnership with the University, established a $15 million matching fund to encourage other women to give to Harvard.

"The coordination of the announcements of these two exciting opportunities for Harvard and Radcliffe reflects our history of collaboration and our mutual commitment to support each other's efforts," Wilson said. "These two challenge programs are a wonderful boost for the campaigns of both institutions.

"This is a significant period in Radcliffe's history. Our future will be shaped by our compelling mission," Wilson said. "Trends in higher education, the national economy, and the evolution of scholarship convince us of the extraordinary potential for women to help construct a better future for society."

"I am pleased that Harvard and Radcliffe are able to announce these parallel initiatives at the same time," said Neil L. Rudenstine, President of Harvard. "These challenges have the clear potential to reinforce our mutual efforts while also strengthening each institution's distinctive programs."

The Campaign for Radcliffe set out to raise $100 million, and with this new commitment, has raised more than $66 million to date. The Campaign will be completed in the year 2000. The first comprehensive campaign in Radcliffe's history, it will permit Radcliffe to extend its scholarship, explore new models for learning, and broaden its reach to a national and international audience.

Radcliffe's new challenge fund invites contributions from men as well as women. The donor will match general-purpose gifts of $25,000 or more for both current use and endowment, contributing dollar-for-dollar to strengthen the foundation for Radcliffe's future. Donors may earn up to $250,000 in matching funds.

The Radcliffe 21st Century Challenge Fund is the second major challenge grant in The Campaign for Radcliffe. In June 1997, Radcliffe successfully completed a challenge from the Herzog Foundation, which provided $1.5 million to endow the Johanna-Maria Fraenkel Curatorship for Manuscripts at the Schlesinger Library.

The Campaign for Radcliffe is designed to support the programs, academic resources, and initiatives essential to Radcliffe's mission. The funds raised will enable vigorous pursuit of enduring commitments and new dimensions. The Campaign will extend the reach of policy work, and add to the numbers of scholars and fellows while broadening the opportunities for student participation. It will also enhance the library and archival resources of Radcliffe.