We are Naz
Donor Impact Report: Fiscal Year 2022–2023
WE ARE NAZ: Three simple and unifying words tell the story of the 2022-2023 academic year at Nazareth.
It was a year of finding a new normal following a period of emergence from the pandemic for all of us in the Nazareth family and for families everywhere. It was a time that saw higher education confronted with enrollment and societal challenges, testing our ability to roll with the punches, demonstrate our fortitude, and finish strong. WE ARE NAZ was the rallying cry both at the kickoff of our 6th Naz Giving Day in April and when the day ended 1,918 gifts later, thanks to so many of you. And it was a year that culminated in our graduation from College to University, a status we’ve lived for decades and finally been officially awarded.
WE ARE NAZ — words that you and the entire Nazareth community can be proud of as we reflect on the combined impact that you have made during our 2023 fiscal year and celebrate our Centennial, which kicked off this month during Naz Weekend. Thank you for all you've done to help close out our first hundred years strongly and position us well to enter our second century.
Please enjoy this annual report of highlights from the past year. You’ll see just a few of the many ways your support has enhanced our campus, strengthened our curriculum and programming, and given our students a strong foundation upon which they can reach their academic goals and serve as a force for good in our community and our world.
Best regards,
Darrell Bell
Vice President for Advancement
Dear Nazareth alumni, supporters, and friends,
I am delighted to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have steadfastly supported Nazareth during this past hallmark year. Your support has been instrumental in driving the achievements of our beloved University and sets us up for success as we look ahead to our centennial in 2024.
A special thank you goes out to those who chose to make a gift to the Nazareth Annual Fund. Annual Fund contributions from 1,795 generous supporters have fulfilled critical needs, empowering our students with life-changing opportunities. By supporting career-boosting programs, enriching student experiences, enhancing diversity initiatives, and bolstering crucial financial aid, you have made a significant impact. With your help, 100% of our incoming students receive necessary financial assistance, making a Nazareth education a reality for them.
As we look ahead, I urge you to continue supporting the Nazareth Annual Fund, ensuring that we can sustain our mission and keep providing the resources our students need for success. Thank you for being an essential part of transforming the lives of our students.
With sincere appreciation,
Betsy Riedman '88
Nazareth University Trustee
Chair, Nazareth Annual Fund
Giving in 2022–2023
Annual Fund Giving
Leadership Society gifts above $1,000: $823,301 of 2022–2023 Annual Fund dollars, 83% of our total raised
Gifts under $250 total almost $100,000 of the Annual Fund and represent about 80% of our Nazareth Annual Fund donors.
Donor support at all levels adds up to make a huge impact for our students here at Nazareth!
Total Overall Giving in 2022–2023: $4,069,058
Giving by Source
25%Friends ($1,025,524)23%Bequests ($943,372)15%Alumni ($604,284)14%Foundations ($548,224)11%Trustees ($465,792)8%Corporations ($303,263)4%Other orgs. ($178,598)
Giving by Purpose
27%Current operating-restricted ($1,099,190)25%Current operating-Annual Fund ($996,337)23%Bequests ($943,372)11%Endowment-scholarships ($464,597)8%Endowment-other ($333,318)6%Projects ($224,252)<1%Gifts-in-kind ($7,991)
By the Numbers
July 2022 – June 2023
3,426
DONORS
2,093
ALUMNI DONORS
186
FOUNDERS LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBERS
447
COUNCIL OAK LEADERSHIP SOCIETY MEMBERS
1,839
1924 LOYALTY SOCIETY MEMBERS
To our recognition society members: Watch for exciting news this fall about Nazareth’s new Changemaker Circle of Giving and where you’ll fit in!
Our Students, Our Strength
“This is why you come to a place like Naz” – The Power of Liberal Arts
Addison Wallace ’25, an art history/chemistry double major with her eye on a career in painting conservation, applied her knowledge and skills in both areas to help solve a campus mystery. Donor support strengthens her fields of study as well as the Nazareth Annual Fund, which supports all areas of campus for our students.
“It’s never too late”: Expansive Naz
As one strategy Nazareth has adopted to pursue its mission, Expansive Naz offers programs that appeal to a wide array of learners to meet them where they are, filling personal, organizational, and societal needs. As a non-traditional student at age 65, George Collichio ‘23G was beyond delighted to add a master’s degree in music performance and pedagogy to his lifetime accomplishments.
First to Fly: “…beyond what I thought was possible.”
One in 10 undergraduate students at Nazareth is the first member of their family to attend college. As it is for nearly all incoming students, the Annual Fund is essential to making their Nazareth opportunity possible by providing financial aid. One first-generation student reflects on the personal meaning of First to Fly in a conversation with Tonya Guzman, director of Student Access and Achievement Programs.
Civil Rights Journey: “…a life-changing experience.”
This year’s Civil Rights Journey took a group of future changemakers, including Matthew Reimann ’24 and Nyelah O'Meally '23, to Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee during winter break, where they learned first-hand about some of our country’s notable civil rights leaders – changemakers of the highest order.
Read about their informative, inspirational, and moving experiences »
”It’s a life value I’ll carry on from Naz….” Making a Difference
in the Community
A full 100% of Nazareth undergraduate students participate in some form of community engagement during their time at Naz. This past year, several members of Nazareth’s women’s hockey team helped coach the Rochester Special Hockey “Ice Cats,” a local team composed of individuals with developmental disabilities.
See how coaching this group has benefited everyone involved »
“We are Naz,” one student at a time
Ian Love ’24 created the winning design for April’s Naz Giving Day T-shirts. “Nazareth exemplifies inclusivity, diversity, community, and belongingness,” he said. “I wanted to create a design that showcased Nazareth’s message into one cohesive illustration that could be shared with Nazareth’s community and allow for that community to make a connection and see the diverse populations that are on our campus and surrounding communities.”
New Faces, Improved Spaces
AI and driverless cars, oh my!
For better or for worse, artificial intelligence is here to stay, and Nazareth’s Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) is ready with three majors and three minors, industry partnerships and co-research, and professional development and industry certifications. The Institute prepares students for a variety of modern careers that are impacted by AI, through an emphasis on ethics, interdisciplinarity, innovation, and employability. Enter Jeff Allan, the new director, whose education and experience position him well to pave the way in Nazareth’s unique approach to studying AI.
Hear his interview with Evan Dawson on WXXI’s “Connections” program »
“Who let the dogs out?”
As students on college campuses nationwide increasingly face mental health challenges, Nazareth has made it a top priority to provide support in multiple ways. In addition to individual counseling, student engagement opportunities, and other innovative initiatives, the IPAWS (Interprofessional Animal-Assisted Wellness) Collaborative is proving to be a popular and effective tool to brighten the lives of our students during their time at Naz.
Veterans benefit from expanded Yellow Ribbon Program
More veteran students at Naz are eligible for tuition support as Nazareth now makes funds available to graduate and certificate students and their dependents, in addition to undergraduates.
Learn more about Nazareth’s support of our veterans in this news article »
Millie’s Café expansion
The renovation project in the Lorette Wilmot Library began in June and will add seating and a larger menu to the popular gathering place for students, while streamlining the library’s central point of circulation.
Lourdes and Kearney Hall renovations
Private, pod-style bathrooms, updated laundry facilities, and increased elevator accessibility will serve our first-year students well in these two residence halls.
Golden Flyers soar because of you
Whether you direct your gift to the Nazareth Annual Fund or to a specific area or academic program, all our students are flying high thanks to your generosity.
98%
of Class of 2022 grads employed or in grad school within 6 months of graduation
And in the 2022–2023 academic year…
290
internships by Naz students
99.5%
interns met or exceeded supervisor expectations
228
Naz students studied abroad
57
international students studied at Nazareth
70
external community partners benefitted from the work of 800 Naz students
$37,305,334
institutional grants/scholarships awarded
10
new endowed scholarships created by supporters like you
Why We Give
For Chris ’87 and Anne ’89 McCaffrey, supporting Nazareth with their time, talent, and treasure came naturally, after their experiences as students. They met on Anne’s first day on campus in 1985 and have now been married for more than 25 years. Chris is the president of Ulrich Signs in Lockport, New York, and Anne serves as a Nazareth trustee and as CEO of People Inc., an organization that serves more than 12,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, and older adults throughout western New York and Rochester.
“Nazareth prepared us well for our careers,” says Chris, citing the public speaking skills, writing skills, and appreciation for community service they learned at college. “We owe it to try to help current students,” says Anne, “and so we give in an unrestricted manner, letting the school determine its needs at any given time.”
Angelo Jasa-Phillips ‘15 is managing director of marketing and communications at ChooseU and serves on the Nazareth Alumni Advisory Board. He is an active and engaged member of the newest generation of Naz alumni and the Nazareth donor family and says, “I give to Naz because the professors, staff, and experiences helped create the pathways and foundations [guiding me] to where I’m at in my career and community.”
Together "We Are Naz."
Thank you for supporting Nazareth and for giving our Golden Flyers wings!
Contact Us
Office of Advancement • dev@naz.edu • 585-389-2415