President's Circle focuses on flexible funding

General Article

New Development program team aims to raise $2 million in unrestricted gifts in fiscal year 2007

Eileen Harasimowicz (left), Michael Rubin, director, and Sharon Ducey form the core of a new program that will extend special benefits to supporters who make annual unrestricted gifts of $10,000 or more. Photo by Stephanie Cartier

Scientific discovery is dynamic in nature. It requires not only the best minds, but also funding that supports a wide range of research. At the Center, flexible funding addresses that need by allowing for the pursuit of the best resources and leads for early stage scientific achievement.

A new program in the Development Department, the President's Circle, complements the Center's established fund-raising efforts by extending special opportunities to donors who make a commitment to discretionary funding. Supporters who make annual gifts of $10,000 or more in flexible funds will receive benefits — including interaction with President and Director Dr. Lee Hartwell and other Center scientists — that give them exclusive exposure to the Center's cutting-edge science.

"This is an exciting new program that affords members a direct link with the Center's research," said Michael Rubin, director of the President's Circle. "People trust our reputation, but when they come to the Center and see firsthand what's going on here, they connect with our research and can't help but be impressed. Visionary investors in the President's Circle ensure the Center has a source of stable, predictable funding to continue to make advances against cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases."

Importance of flexible funding

"The structure of the President's Circle program is designed to provide a funding base of support equivalent to millions in endowment — to ensure the Center can quickly advance innovative research and ideas that are not yet eligible for federal grants," said Eileen Harasimowicz, President's Circle officer. "The key is helping our constituents understand the importance of flexible funding."

Rubin and Harasimowicz aim to raise at least $2 million through the President's Circle in fiscal year 2007.

"The President's Circle will offer an opportunity for us to share the detailed science behind, planning for, and execution of major new scientific directions," Hartwell said. "Examples in the last couple of years are proteomics, epigenetics, HIV-vaccine development and more. President's Circle members will gain insights on the planning and execution and will get to meet faculty involved in these advances."

Rubin and his team are working to sign up 150 President's Circle members this year and 300 members by fiscal year 2009. "Those are significant numbers, but we're confident our supporters will want to help us sustain progress that's vital to our mission," Rubin said. A group of donor volunteers, known as the President's Circle Council, will help solicit gifts.

If you or someone you know would like to become a member of the President's Circle, contact Michael Rubin at (206) 667-5377 or mrubin@fhcrc.org. More information is available at www.fhcrc.org/presidentscircle.

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Membership in the President's Circle has special benefits

To recognize members and show appreciation for their generous annual support, the President's Circle offers the following benefits:

• An invitation to the annual President's Circle Forum.
• President's Reflections, a series of letters from Dr. Hartwell exclusively for President's Circle members.
• Annual President's Circle progress report, detailing how member investments have impacted Center research.
• Annual name recognition on the prominently placed President's Circle donor wall on campus.

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