The Half-Million-Dollar Gift

Written by Petrina Gilmore, Director of Philanthropy, Somerville House Foundation

How a Call from the Blue Turned into a Half-Million-Dollar Gift

In May 2022 we announced a $500,000 gift matched by the Somerville House Foundation to deliver $1M to enhance educational opportunities at the School. Our initial benefactor, a former student who achieved success as a C-Suite executive and leader in the Asia Pacific, initiated a conversation to see how she could best support current and future students.

Those early tentative conversations did not end as I had anticipated, as she sounded me out, and as I tried to get a feel for where her interest lay. After our first long telephone conversation, I wrote to her ‘I wish I’d spoken less and listened more’.

So, how did I get from the occasional email and rare call to securing a major gift?

We explored Scholarships, Leadership Programs, the Master Plan, buildings, facilities and more. Over time I became aware that she adopted a business perspective, as she looked to find the avenue that would leverage the greatest impact from her gift.

Why Getting Your ‘Ducks in a Row’ Matters

It was clear from astute questions that she was across all Foundation activities: supporting the decision to incorporate means-testing for Foundation Scholarships and committed to building a culture of philanthropy for our girls, as rich as that in boys’ schools

Our correspondence featured links to articles and campaign literature that gave my cause authenticity and veracity.

I’ve been called a ‘desktop fundraiser’ – and it’s true!

My priority has always been to put forward a persuasive Case for Support that reinforces priorities and fundraising objectives, crafting a cohesive narrative across all platforms. This includes:

• School Magazine articles
• Foundation Member Quarterly Updates
• Impact Reports
• Campaign collateral
• Growing Foundation pages from a single landing page to cover:
  • Scholarships & Bursaries
  • Capital Development
  • Entry Level Fundraising options
  • Gifts in Will
• And more…

To discern where her gift would reap the greatest dividend, I had to be nimble and think laterally. A shared perspective on the benefits to girls from participation in sport became a shared vision.

Within a remarkably short timeframe, liaising with project managers, and securing approvals from the School and Boards fast-tracked the delivery of facilities to girls, shaving years off the Master Plan.

Our donor exemplifies a recent movement in women’s giving – proudly ‘owning’ her philanthropy, sharing her story to inspire young professionals who credit some of their success to their education.

Petrina Gilmore

Director of Philanthropy, Somerville House Foundation