MBA Reunion Volunteer Communication Guidelines
We Need You!
Classmates are essential in helping plan Reunion. We understand your time is precious — any amount of commitment you can offer is helpful. We are happy to guide you through becoming the most effective volunteer!
So, welcome aboard and let’s make this Reunion year the best!
Responsibilities include:
- One hour monthly calls (September-May)
- Reaching out via email to classmates to encourage attending and giving
- Making a gift of any amount in honor of Reunion
Sending Peer-to-Peer Emails
Throughout the Reunion cycle, you will need to send peer-to-peer emails that let classmates know important details about Reunion. We encourage you to write as if you are having a friendly conversation with a classmate. That’s where you can excel. You are speaking to your peers and they will respond to your familiarity with the shared experience of having attended the Wharton School.
Wherever in the volunteer cycle you may have joined, you can begin sending emails that will attract registration and gifts.
As you write these emails, the following bullet points will provide a framework for your message.
Good luck! Your Wharton liaisons are here to help you succeed.
Sample Email Templates
Fundraising Outreach
- Let them know that a gift or pledge to The Wharton Fund or Lauder Annual Fund, of any size, made between July 1 and June 30, will automatically be credited toward your Class Gift Campaign.
- Share results and progress to date.
- “In honor of our milestone reunion, we have put together fundraising goals for our class and we’re XX donors and $XX, XXX away from achieving them. Join our Class Gift Campaign today!”
- If you have already made your gift, use companion language like: “Join me in making a gift today!”
- Connect with your Wharton liaison who can suggest custom giving amounts for the classmates you are reaching out to.
- Remind your classmates that fundraising leaves a legacy and strengthens the brand of the School.
- Be timely in your outreach and tailor your message accordingly.
- December – “Make your Class Gift before tax year-end!”
- January-April – “Join our Class Gift today to help us reach our goal of XX donors and $XX,XXX!”
- May – “Reunion is just around the corner! Make your gift before Reunion Weekend to get our class one step closer to our goals.”
- June – “There’s still time to make your Class Gift! Give before June 30 to be counted towards our donor and dollar goals.”
- Donors can double or even triple the impact of their gift if they or their spouse work for a matching gift company. Matching gifts are counted towards Class Gift goals just like any other gift. You and your classmates can find out if an employer offers a matching gift program at whr.tn/match.
- If appropriate, encourage your classmates to make leadership gifts to The Wharton Fund that will make them members of the Benjamin Franklin Society. Benjamin Franklin Society membership starts at $2,500 annually. Alumni celebrating their first reunion milestone are eligible to join the Young Franklin Society with a gift to The Wharton Fund of $1,000 or more annually. You and your classmates can learn more about the Benjamin Franklin Society at whr.tn/bfs.
- Remind your classmates that the power of their giving can be amplified by making a multi-year commitment. When you or your classmates make a pledge to The Wharton Fund or Lauder Annual Fund during a reunion milestone year, the full amount of your commitment is recognized in your Class Gift totals. For example, if you pledge to give $5,000 every year for five years, you are recognized for your commitment to your Class Gift at the $25,000 level.
- If you or a classmate are interested in making a multi-year commitment, please contact your Wharton Fund Liaison for assistance to ensure the pledge is recorded accurately.
Registration and Fundraising Update
- Reminder to people who have not registered or made a gift for Reunion
- Provide links to the MBA Reunion Weekend registration list and Donor Honor Roll to see who has registered and given.
- Show cohort breakdown of registered and giving numbers
- View email templates for guidance
Final Pre-Reunion Push
- Similar to registration and fundraising update
- Hope to see you at Reunion
- View email templates for guidance
Challenge Announcement (If Applicable)
- A classmate has issued a fundraising challenge for our class
- This is a great opportunity to make a gift in support of Reunion if you have not already
- Details will be provided by your Wharton liaison
- View email templates for guidance
Thank You for Attending
- Thank your classmates for making Reunion such a memorable experience
- If you have not already, please add a page to our BrightCrowd book!
- Remind your classmates there’s still time to give if they haven’t already
- The fiscal year and the Class Gift Campaign end on June 30
Send week after Reunion ⤶
Contact Us
Do you have questions about The Wharton Fund? Visit our FAQs site by clicking here or reach out any time to one of our Wharton Fund Liaisons. Not sure who to contact? Reach our office at +1.215.898.7868 or whartonfund@wharton.upenn.edu.
Beth Truta Morris
Senior Director
The Wharton Fund
truta@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.898.3552
Diana Paterno
Senior Associate Director
The Wharton Fund
dianapat@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.292.5959
Jamie Lemisch
Senior Associate Director
35th-50th Reunions & prior
Full Time MBA Classes:
1991 and prior
jlemisch@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.267.353.4149
Kinjal Mathur
Director
25th and 30th Reunions
Full Time MBA Classes:
1992-2000
and MBAs for Executives
kinjalm@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.302.668.9895
Patrick Zeller
Associate Director
10th, 15th, and 20th Reunions
Full-Time MBA Classes:
2001-2015
zellerp@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.573.9096
Isaiah Bryant
Associate Director
1st and 5th Reunions
Full-Time MBA Classes:
2016-2023
ibryant@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.573.7352
Contact Us
Do you have questions about The Wharton Fund? Visit our FAQs site by clicking here or reach out any time to one of our Wharton Fund Liaisons. Not sure who to contact? Reach our office at +1.215.898.7868 or whartonfund@wharton.upenn.edu.
Beth Truta Morris
Senior Director
The Wharton Fund
truta@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.898.3552
Diana Paterno
Senior Associate Director
The Wharton Fund
dianapat@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.292.5959
Jamie Lemisch
Associate Director
35th-50th Reunions & prior
Full Time MBA Classes: 1991 and prior
jlemisch@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.267.353.4149
Kinjal Mathur
Director
25th and 30th Reunions
Full Time MBA Classes: 1992-2000
and MBAs for Executives
kinjalm@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.302.668.9895
Patrick Zeller
Associate Director
10th, 15th, and 20th Reunions
Full-Time MBA Classes: 2001-2015
zellerp@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.573.9096
Isaiah Bryant
Associate Director
1st and 5th Reunions
Full-Time MBA Classes: 2016-2023
ibryant@wharton.upenn.edu
+1.215.573.7352