HWS News
30 July 2024 • Alums $103 Million: HWS Donors Support Record Giving Year as Campaign Launches By Andrew Wickenden '09
New gifts and commitments totaled $103 million during the 2023-24 fiscal year — by far the largest fundraising year in HWS history. Fundraising success leads to leadership shifts in Advancement.
Hobart and William Smith received gifts from more than 5,000 donors during the 2023-24 fiscal year for a total of $103 million raised, which is nearly triple last year’s total. Gifts during the 12-month period between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024 included the two largest commitments in HWS history.
“As Hobart and William Smith enters the public phase of our historic Further Together Campaign, we do so with an overwhelming show of support from our community,” says President Mark D. Gearan. “I am deeply grateful to the alumni, parents and friends who have invested in the future of HWS with such confidence and enthusiasm. This remarkable giving year leaves us poised to prepare students better than ever with the values, perspectives and skills to make a consequential impact on the world.”
This year’s totals also included approximately $22.4 million in annual giving, with $3.3 million directed toward the Annual Fund itself. During Scholarship Day of Donors and Athletics Day of Donors, alumni, parents and friends gave a total of $1.35 million in just 48 hours to support Statesmen and Herons teams and Annual Fund scholarships.
Chair of the Board of Trustees Craig Stine ’81, P’17 says that after the success of the past several years, which saw consistent record-high fundraising, “HWS is in a much stronger financial position. This year’s support reinforces the institutional vision and gives us tremendous momentum to fulfill the Campaign’s goals. The collective support for HWS is truly inspiring, and I look forward to what this community can achieve. I remain most grateful.”
With the Campaign underway, the longtime head of the Advancement team Bob O’Connor P’22, P’23 will take on a new role as Vice President and Senior Philanthropic Advisor beginning this summer. Steve Caraher, who has managed the HWS fundraising team responsible for Leadership Giving, Annual Giving, Stewardship, Parent Programs and Athletic Development, has been named Vice President for Advancement.
“So much of our fundraising success is due to Bob O’Connor and the outstanding team he has assembled,” says Gearan. “Bob begins his 27th year at HWS, the last 17 as the Vice President for Advancement. With the Campaign now in its public phase, Bob will be taking on a new role in this important moment in our history serving as a philanthropic advisor to my office while continuing to work on transformational gift opportunities for HWS.”
“It’s rewarding to see our community come together for our students and the incredible work of our faculty and staff,” says O’Connor. “The support of alumni, parents and friends, alongside the hard work of the Advancement team, makes a profound impact on the lives of everyone who studies and works at HWS. We are fortunate to have someone of Steve Caraher’s caliber leading our Advancement team. His experience and success in building relationships across our community has yielded increasingly positive results and is an invaluable asset for the Campaign.”
“I’m excited to take on this new role as the Advancement team continues the outstanding work that has brought us to this historic moment,” Caraher says. “I am lucky to work alongside colleagues who are so good at what they do because they believe in this special place that is HWS — and are committed to making it even better. And I am especially grateful to Bob for his mentorship over these last six years.”
“Steve has my full support and confidence,” adds Gearan. “As we look to the future, his commitment to Hobart and William Smith, knowledge of the science of advancement, management skills and vision will be invaluable.”
