When the Class of 1996 gathered for their 30th reunion, they came with more than nostalgia—they came to make history, presenting President Beilock with a gift that shattered the all-time DCF reunion giving record.
The ’96’s gift of $ 10,288,532.96, the largest in Dartmouth history, broke the record set by the Class of 1978 thirteen years ago by more than $1 million and surpassed the all-time Ivy League 30th reunion giving record set by Princeton’s Class of 1995.
For the ’96s, the achievement carried particular weight. Their 25th reunion was uncertain at first due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was ultimately pushed back a year. When the 30th approached, they were determined to make up for lost time—and to make a statement.
“People really wanted to be together,” said Kim Sanderson Hutfilz, co-head agent for the ’96s. “There was this real sense of community that occurred with our class, and we rode that wave all the way to the 30th.”
More than 250 classmates attended the reunion, and the energy didn’t dissipate when the weekend ended. “The class group chat was still buzzing, and new donors were reaching out to contribute. I got a call from a classmate who said, ‘I was so inspired. I’m going to give,’” Hutfilz said.
The campaign had been years in the making. Hutfilz and co-head agent Matt Miller had been working toward the goal for a decade, drafting a leadership team of five others who worked diligently to secure major gifts. Hadley Mullin, a current trustee, as well as Josh Benn, Jamie Keenan, Peter Evans, and Lee Grinberg were all instrumental in this effort, with their sights set firmly on the Class of 1978’s record. When they learned of Princeton’s Ivy League reunion record of $10 million, the ’96s raised their own target to $10,096,000—a nod to their graduation year.
“Our class is ultra-competitive, ambitious, and successful,” said Joshua Benn ’96, one of seven volunteer leaders who drove the effort. “The opportunity to set a record and eclipse all other Dartmouth cohorts was plenty of ammunition to compel class members to step up in an unprecedented manner.”
Participation spanned the class broadly. While major gifts were concentrated among a smaller group, nearly 40 percent of the class contributed at levels meaningful to them—a reflection of what makes the ’96s distinctive, Hutfilz said. “Not everyone can make a really huge gift,” she said. “But a class coming together to make a commitment like this—I think that really spoke to a lot of people.”
Reunion giving is one of the most significant annual sources of revenue for the Dartmouth College Fund, and gifts of this scale have a direct impact on the College’s financial aid programs. For Hutfilz, that connection made the effort feel personal. “The idea that we would try to create opportunities for today’s students is really exciting,” she said. “Dartmouth feels expansive right now, and I hope that this gift reflects that on behalf of our class.”
Benn echoed that sentiment. “I love Dartmouth and my ’96 classmates,” he said. “I’m very proud to have contributed meaningfully and succeeded in our historic objective.”
The class isn’t finished. With their 35th reunion only four years away—Dartmouth Reunion classes cluster, so it arrives sooner than usual—Hutfilz has already set her sights on the next milestone. “I’d love to break our own record,” she said.
A class coming together to make a commitment like this—I think that really spoke to a lot of people.