As a non-profit U.S. entity, The American College of Greece has been a magnet for gifts and charitable giving throughout its history from generous individuals, corporations, and foundations who care about quality education and want to support the college’s mission.
Among other things, charitable giving supports financial aid to deserving students at The American College of Greece. As the current Greek economic crisis enters its seventh year with no end in sight, more and more students are relying on financial aid to help them complete their studies, and these gifts become increasingly important in helping the College fulfil its mission.
Charitable giving also supports internships and other on-the-job training for students, Study Abroad and student exchange opportunities, the development of new academic programs and schools, and the improvement of ACG’s learning infrastructure.
During the 2015-16 academic year, ACG will offer more than €5.3 million (approximately $6 million), to students across all its divisions (Deree undergraduate and graduate, Pierce and Alba).
Traditionally, the greatest source of charitable giving to ACG has been the United States – a country with a well-developed ethos of private support for education.
To strengthen its fundraising drive in the United States, the college recently added two experienced development officers to its staff.
Adam Steinberg was named Director of Major Gifts – North America and Jonathan Carroll, PhD was named Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations/Major Gifts Officer. Formerly Steinberg was associate director of Leadership Gifts at Connecticut’s Trinity College and Carroll was director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Babson College in Massachusetts.
Both officers will be operating out of ACG’s Boston office.
Steinberg and Carroll visited ACG for the first time in mid-January, to meet with students, faculty and administrators and get a better sense of ACG’s culture and the context within which the college operates in Greece.
“During my first week on campus, an unknown administrator approached me, excitedly shook my hand and exclaimed: Welcome to the Family!” recounted Carroll, from Boston. “This sentiment completely captures the ACG experience. It is a place, where the administrators, faculty and staff embrace the students and work to ensure their success like they are family.”
Both officers toured Athens and visited Nafplion, Greece’s first capital, and the wine-making region of Nemea. They also sat in on actual Deree and Pierce classes to get a feel for the faculty-student interaction.
“I attended a microeconomics class and I was able to see first-hand how a professor was able to engage with his Deree students,” said Steinberg who was visiting Greece for the first time. “During my 10-day stay on campus, I was able to learn more about the college, the fundraising priorities, and the culture that makes Greece so unique.” Steinberg also spoke with a diverse group of study abroad students, to hear how and why they chose to study at ACG.
” I believe that philanthropy and the concept of giving back is vital to the growth of ACG as an institution,” said Steinberg. “Philanthropy is so important because your commitment would impact the students of today and create a legacy at ACG for the future.”
“I am excited to work with North American foundations, corporations and individuals to help support ACG,” said Carroll. “Giving to the College, offers alumni and friends the opportunity to make a positive impact on the institution and country. I am honored to be a part of the ACG family and I look forward to sharing this powerful opportunity.”
