A Message From the Vice President for Institutional Advancement:

Wow, what a year! As Wilson moved forward post-pandemic shutdown, I was delighted to see donors embrace the College’s challenges, understand students’ needs and spread your gratitude for Wilson far and wide. Beginning last fall, I accompanied the President on his many Where’s Wes visits around the country and feel blessed to have met dozens of you and heard of your touching, incredible, and life changing connections to your alma mater. Such adventures of learning and loving Wilson!

Thanks to generous donors like you, the College is able to report another successful fundraising year. We are humbly grateful to the donors who contributed more than $5.5 million, with just under $1.5 million given by Wilson community members who remembered Wilson in estate plans. For those day-to-day student requisites, 853 donors generously gave in excess of $1.6 million to the Wilson Fund, amazingly surpassing our $1 million dollar goal as the highest ever raised for the Wilson Fund.

After a three-year holding pattern, the One Grand Reunion this past June was wonderful. From the Class of 1947 to the Class of 2022, the level of commitment to welcoming classmates and to giving back to Wilson fueled a very palpable energy and enthusiasm. The 1979 and 1980 Discussion in Thomson Chapel was an illuminating window into why alumni are passionate and steadfast supporters of this small and mighty institution. The Classes of 1970, 1971 and 1972, celebrating their 50th Reunions in 2022, served as inspirations with their fundraising. I was especially struck by the words on the 1972 class banner: If we change the world, let it bear the mark of our intelligence.

There are myriad types of intelligence from logical to linguistic; perhaps the most profound among Wilson College supporters is emotional intelligence. I’ve felt fortunate to witness, time and time again this EI, this ability to truly understand our students’ goals and to grasp the vision of the College’s leadership. I’ve heard alumni reflect on how they felt while at Wilson and how it shaped their thoughts, behavior and life trajectory. I’ve listened to how Wilson College built on strengths, addressed weaknesses, boosted self-confidence and imbued grit and adaptability. 

I’ve found that Wilson College donors ask questions of the President, me and my Advancement colleagues which get to the heart of the issue. Your open-mindedness and interest in how you can make our students’ experience better shows that Wilson has a history, and a future, of graduating classes who embody EI; that intelligence does change the world. 

As the President and the Advancement team share the goals of the We Rise campaign over the next year, we need your empathy and dedication. Our students need your support to make their mark. Our challenged world needs Wilson College students for a collective future. 

Thank you again for your remarkable investment in Wilson’s students.  I look forward to seeing you and listening more on the road or on campus in the future. 

In gratitude,
Angela Zimmann

Pines and Maples Society
The Pines and Maples Society was established to honor those who supported Wilson College at the highest level, $1,000 or more, in the past fiscal year. View the 2022 Pines and Maples Society donor list here. 

​Restricted Giving
The following donors have supported the College's various programs and initiatives to include but not limited to; academic support, capital projects, endowment, faculty support, in-kind gifts, intercollegiate athletics, reunion class gifts, Single Parent Scholar Program, student scholarships. View the 2022 Restricted Giving donor list here. 

Wilson Fund Giving
Supporting the Wilson Fund is a tangible way for donors to express their gratitude for the College and commitment to its future. The Wilson Fund is the College's most critical need avenue for supporting the College. View the 2022 Wilson Fund donor list here. 

Conococheague Society
The Conococheague Society celebrates the philanthropy that has been an integral part of the College since Sarah Wilson provided her first gifts totaling $20,000 in 1869. Membership is offered to those generous individuals who have included Wilson in their estate plans. View the 2022 Conococheague Society donor list here.