2023
The Because Hamilton campaign began with the goal of $400 million, more than double any previous fundraising effort in Hamilton’s history. Ambitious, yes. Impossible, certainly not. Why? Because Hamiltonians believe in the College’s transformative liberal arts education and demonstrate time and again their commitment to ensuring that experience for future generations.
Together, we exceeded our goal. Here’s a snapshot of how — and why — we did it.
Because Hamilton [Aspires]
Know Thyself
Embedded in the heart of Hamilton — and the Because Hamilton campaign — is the notion that the College was founded as a school of opportunity. Today, that founding vision intertwines with the ethos of Know Thyself, inspiring our continuous pursuit to make every aspect of a Hamilton education accessible to the most talented students from around the world.
Financial Aid: Increased Access and Opportunity
In 2019, Hamilton celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its need-blind admission policy, which established that the College does not consider a student’s financial circumstances in its admission decisions for U.S. citizens and meets each student’s full demonstrated financial need. Hamilton is among fewer than four dozen U.S. colleges and universities that provide this extraordinary access.
The SEAS Fund: Teaching Students to Fish
When Trustee Phyllis Breland ’80 was Hamilton’s Director of Opportunity Programs, one of her favorite meetings was for the Student Emergency Aid Society (SEAS), a campus committee that evaluates and supports emergency or exceptional one-time needs for students with extraordinary financial barriers.
Hamilton Joins Network for First-Gen Student Success
Hamilton College has been selected to join a prestigious network of colleges and universities that have demonstrated a commitment to enhancing experiences and advancing outcomes for first-generation college students.
Academic Foundation
Know Thyself
It is the role of everyone at Hamilton to ensure our liberal arts education remains rigorous, relevant, and comprehensive. The people who teach our students and guide groundbreaking research, as well as the initiatives and programs we design to both enhance students’ experiences and prepare them for when they leave College Hill, are essential to this work.
Because of You
Expanded the widely acclaimed program Common Ground
Common Ground
67% of the students in the classes of 2025 & 2026 have met with ALEX Advisors
ALEX: Advise, Learn, EXperience
Nearly $2.9M awarded to 1,285 recipients to support career-related experiences
Summer Internship Funding
Learning Outside the Classroom
Know Thyself
Hamilton brings together people from different backgrounds and with different ideas and perspectives. Yet the special advantage of the residential liberal arts experience is the opportunity to develop a program that more purposefully provides a diverse array of students with extensive opportunities for leadership, engagement, intellectual and personal growth, and wellness.
Because of You
New opportunities were added for students to pursue research, internships
Experiential Learning
2,644 alumni & parents volunteered through Career Center programming
Hamilton Career Network
$11.2M in gifts provided more meaningful and marketable opportunities
Career-Related Experiences
Launched a coordinated network of academic centers, resources, and advisors
ALEX: Advise, Learn, EXperience
A Balanced Life
Know Thyself
When it came time to articulate our community’s most pressing needs and how a campaign could support them, Hamilton was looking to strengthen its support for individual health and well-being. Because Hamilton helped the College become a model and leader in developing the health and wellness of our community.