Franklin & Marshall College

An opportunity for leadership

The College specially thanks and recognizes donors who have made a transformative investment in the future of Franklin & Marshall College through giving societies (descriptions are listed on this page) and though consecutive giving.

Consecutive Donor

Franklin & Marshall gratefully acknowledges its consecutive donors who support the College each year.

A donor who has made a gift in four out of the past five years is identified with a lightning bolt beside his or her name on the College’s donor listing. The lightning bolt symbol commemorates our illustrious founder, Benjamin Franklin, who it has been said "snatched lightning from the sky and the scepter from tyrants."

Consecutive donors – an elite group of the most faithful alumni -- accounted for over 77% of the College’s donors last year. Just like Franklin, these loyal supporters hold the key to Franklin & Marshall’s future success.

For more information on how you can become a consecutive donor, please contact Matthew Weaver ’03 (), Director of Annual Giving, at 717 358-4598.

The Benjamin Franklin Society

The Benjamin Franklin Society celebrates the College’s strongest supporters who invest confidently in the passion and promise cultivated at Franklin & Marshall. With a starting gift of $1,787 that commemorates the College’s founding year, the Benjamin Franklin Society offers a renewed commitment to lead from among our most generous donors. Membership in this society allows us to recognize your generosity and to thank you for helping us at this leadership level of giving. Just as Benjamin Franklin's gift of £200 was critical to the College's history, your gift is critical in shaping Franklin & Marshall's future.

Please consider joining The Benjamin Franklin Society.

The John Marshall Society

Members of the John Marshall Society have made lifetime gifts totaling $100,000 or more.

Their gifts provide significant support to programs and facilities, assuring that the college’s liberal arts program remains among the nation’s finest. We are fortunate indeed to have a growing number of alumni and friends who support the College at this level, and we are grateful for their exemplary generosity.

For more information on how you can become a member of The John Marshall Society, please contact Dave Sowers ( ), Director of Major Gifts at 717 291-4276.

The Founders Society

The Founders Society recognizes Members whose lifetime gifts are valued at $1,000,000 or more.

The first contributor to the College, whose gift of 200 pounds is still in the endowment, was Benjamin Franklin. We are most grateful to the many other generous Founders who have followed his example.

For more information on how you can become a member of The Founders Society, please contact Lewis Thayne ( ), Vice President for Advancement at 717 291-4144.

The William A. Schnader Society

The William A. Schnader Society honors individuals who have exhibited an important and special commitment to the College through gift planning.

Gift Planning include bequests, trusts, charitable gift annuities, insurance policies, and IRA, 401(k) and 403(b) beneficiary designations and donor-advised funds. For more information on how you can become a member of The William A. Schnader Society, please contact Stefanie Valar ( ), Director of Gift Planning at 717 291-4272 or click here.