Rice University Development Office Fund Council records

The Rice University Fund Council was organized in May 1971 "to promote the establishment and maintenance of a fund raising organization to raise funds for the benefit of Rice University." There were approximately 30 members in the first year. The original committee structure consisted of the Annual Fund Drive and the Deferred Giving Program. There were two giving clubs, the Founders Club with approximately 50 members who contributed $2,000 each, and the Presidents Club with approximately 200 members, who in their first year contributed $76,000.

In 1987 Task Force of Fund Council members was organized. It was prompted by the need for a more focused fundraising effort to continue to fulfill its founding purpose of promoting "the establishment and maintenance of a fundraising organization to raise funds for the benefit of Rice University." Their work resulted in revisions to the Constitution and Bylaws, increasing the voting membership from 30 to 70, the term of office from one to two years, and setting up additional standing committees. These included: the Membership Committee, the Planned Giving and Major Individual Gift Committee, the Annual Fund Committee, Corporate and Foundation Giving Committee, the Special Projects Committee and the Designated Giving Committee.

The membership and scope of the Fund Council continued to evolve. In 1992, amendments to the Constitution again expanded the organization and role of the Fund Council "... to assist and support the University's fund raising effort to achieve substantial and continuing growth in private gift revenues to the University from individuals, corporations and foundations." Modifications in the committee structure have strengthened the committees as actual working committees and modeled them to more consistently mirror the development organization. They included the following committees: Annual Gifts, Donor Relations, Major Gifts and the Support Groups. During this period, there were approximately 145 members including the Student Association President, the Alumni Board Representative, the Faculty/Staff Representatives, Deans, and Vice Presidents.

The Mission Statement became consistent with the original purpose of the Fund Council, "The Rice University Fund Council is the organization of individuals that support the University in achieving its fund raising objectives by providing volunteer effort and by advising and supporting the University's Office of Development." The key change has been in expanding the Fund Council's responsibilities "in advising and supporting the University's Office of Development. "