Parent Giving

Why parents?

Muhlenberg, like its peer institutions, relies heavily on philanthropic leadership from its core supporters - alumni, parents and friends. Muhlenberg parents have a vested interest, wanting their children to have access to the best resources and experiences, and to be challenged by the best of their student peers.

Why give to The Muhlenberg Fund?

Every student receives some level of subsidy, regardless of financial aid or scholarship awards. Tuition at Muhlenberg, as at most colleges, has never reflected the true cost of educating students.  The Muhlenberg Fund is relied on each year to help close the 15% gap between what families pay and what it actually costs to educate their students. Muhlenberg’s steady, conservative financial philosophy has allowed its tuition to stay well below that of many peer institutions. But another reason tuition hasn’t risen more is due to the generosity of parents supporting the College annually through The Muhlenberg Fund.

What is The Muhlenberg Fund?

The Muhlenberg Fund is the College’s annual fund. Giving to The Muhlenberg Fund provides the most immediate, positive impact as gifts are used in the areas of greatest need. With a direct and timely impact on operational resources including financial aid, technological upgrades and faculty development, the strength of The Muhlenberg Fund translates to the quality of students the College can attract and enroll and Muhlenberg’s overall competitiveness.

Is there really power in numbers?

With their collective giving, parents are on track to contribute over $1 million in gifts to the College for the second time in the past three years. An impressive 68% of Muhlenberg parents contributed in 2008-2009, with gifts to The Muhlenberg Fund surpassing a quarter of a million dollars ($261,693).

Your gift, of any size, makes a difference now, today, this year, in the lives of all Muhlenberg students. Reinforce your child’s decision to pursue a Muhlenberg degree and your family’s educational investment with a gift today.

How do I give?

You can make a gift by clicking here.

Phone: 800-859-2243

Mail: Muhlenberg College

2400 W. Chew Street

Allentown, PA 18104

Attn: The Muhlenberg Fund

To discuss your giving preferences more personally, please contact Carol Sullivan, Associate Director of Parent Giving, at 484-664-3306 or csullivan@muhlenberg.edu.

Parents Council

Background: The Muhlenberg College Parents Council was created in 1992 to forge a partnership between parents and the College for the benefit of Muhlenberg students. Muhlenberg parents appointed by the President comprise this group and are resources for both the College and all Muhlenberg families. Each year the President invites a select number of parents to serve a one-year renewable term on the Parents Council. Currently, 45 families across the classes have parents serving on this leadership group.

Benefits: Membership builds a deeper relationship with Muhlenberg and stronger connection to the President, senior staff and fellow parents. Parents Council members are invited to be the President’s guests at a fall reception and spring dinner he hosts before each meeting. This valued time with the President and down-time with other parent members are highlights of the meeting weekends. Meetings are catered and, on occasion, some meals or events may be open for parent members’ students to join.

Responsibilities:

Share the parent perspective - As representatives of Muhlenberg families, council members are asked to share their perspectives and questions on College matters with the administration. Through visits with the Parents Council liaison and participation at the two meetings each year, council members are expected to lend their perspective on the Muhlenberg experience – from academic and support offerings to student life to readiness for post-graduation plans and more.

Stay informed and engaged - To passionately and accurately represent Muhlenberg in advocate and ambassador roles, members are expected to attend at least one of the two Parent Council meetings each year. The fall meeting takes place over Family Weekend, usually Sunday morning. The spring meeting typically takes place on a weekend in March or April. Council members are also asked to review various communique regarding the College in general (Presidential Updates, Muhlenberg Magazine, Dean of Students E-Newsletter) and give due attention to any information communicated by the Parent Council Chairs and liaison.

Lead Muhlenberg philanthropically - As members of one of the College’s leadership groups, those on the Parents Council are expected to give at a leadership level. Contributions to The Muhlenberg Fund beginning at $1,500 annually place these parent leaders in the Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Society (HMMS). Many Parents Council members also lend philanthropic support to programming and capital projects of their passions beyond their annual contributions to The Muhlenberg Fund.

Other involvement: In addition to the responsibilities above, several Parents Council members also avail themselves to be networking resources for the Career Center and support peer resources to newer parents during events such as Orientation, Move-in and Family Weekend. Should you like to learn more about the Parents Council and ways to deepen your connection with Muhlenberg, please contact Carol Sullivan, Associate Director of the Muhlenberg Fund, at csullivan@muhlenberg.edu or 484-664-3306.