Parent Giving
Parent giving provides annual operating resources that are immediately put to use to enhance the Lafayette student experience.
Each year, parents make gifts to all areas of Lafayette totaling approximately $1 million. This annual support would be equivalent to a gift of $20,000,000 to the endowment. Annual gifts to support all areas of Lafayette are a powerful way to make the Lafayette experience possible for all students.
What area will my gift support?
Parents and families may designate a gift to benefit an academic or athletic program, student organization, or other activity or project of choice. Or, parents and families may made an unrestricted gift to the annual fund, which offers the College maximum flexibility to meet pressing needs. Some of the most popular areas for parent support include:
- Unrestricted Annual Fund – put to immediate use to address needs at the college including technology enhancements, research opportunities and faculty support.
- Maroon Club and Sport-Specific Funds – providing essential resources to support our student-athletes.
- Gateway Career Center – providing critical support for internship stipends and career preparation opportunities.
- Other areas – Parents and families are also welcome to support an area that means the most to them and their student. Each gift helps to bolster and enhance the Lafayette experience for all students.
I hear a lot about the Parents’ Fund; what is that?
Each year, gifts to the College through all areas of the Annual Fund support unparalleled research opportunities, global learning programs, talented and dedicated faculty, our nationally recognized Gateway Career Center, and numerous extracurricular opportunities. The Parents’ Fund does not represent just one fund or area of giving but, instead, recognizes approximately $1 million, which is generously given each year by Lafayette parents and families to all areas of the College.
The Marquis Parents Council
Marquis Parents Council members offer advice and counsel from a parents’ perspective and play an important role in ensuring Lafayette’s success by supporting the College financially.* Support from the Marquis Parents Council directly impacts students’ lives and enables Lafayette to provide unmatched educational and co-curricular experiences.
*Marquis Parent Membership Levels:
Marquis Laureates – $50,000 and up
Marquis Council – $25,000 – $49,999
Marquis Circle – $10,000 – $24,999
Marquis Court – $5,000 – $9,999
Marquis Founders – $1,826 – $4,999
*All annual gifts of $1,826 or more made in the fiscal year ending June 30—including outright gifts, matching gifts, donor advised funds gifts, and planned gifts—qualify for membership to the Marquis Parents Council.
Courtesies Extended to Members:
- Provide the President and the College with a parent’s perspective and counsel
- Receive invitations to special campus and regional events
- Recognition in the annual Summary of Giving and Volunteer Participation
Your Leadership Entails Opportunities to:
- Attend Marquis Parents Council regional or on-campus meetings twice per year (held Family Weekend and during the spring semester)
- Volunteer for parent-to-parent outreach efforts
- Host or attend local events to build the Lafayette parent community
- Provide career connection opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
In addition to financial support of programs, our students have benefited from parent and family engagement in several high impact ways via the Gateway Career Center. Between providing practice interviews, to hiring students as interns, serving as mentors to current students, and opening up their homes to host a career event, parents and families are making a difference in preparing our students for life after Lafayette.
Whether you have supported Lafayette College financially and/or through volunteering your time, thank you for all you do. The contributions made by parents and families are invaluable and have a tremendous impact on the lives of our students.