As of November 15, MIT's Community Giving campaign had raised $111,960 in gifts and pledges from 393 donors, including 31 Leadership Gifts of at least $1,000. The Institute hopes to raise $340,000 during the campaign, which runs until December 31.
Contributions made to the campaign will benefit the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, which last year funded social-services agencies that helped more than 1.8 million people in 80 cities and towns; MIT's Community Service Fund (CSF), which provided financial assistance to 20 nonprofit organizations in Cambridge last year; and other social services agencies designated by individual donors.
Employees may allocate their own donations in any combination to the United Way, the CSF and/or other local charities of their choice. "People may choose to make multiple designations if they wish, or just one area," said Elizabeth K. Mulcahy, campaign manager. "For example, someone may pledge $600 by payroll deduction and check off three different areas. That gift will then be divided evenly among the three areas.
"But he or she could also pledge 50 percent to one area and 25 percent to each of the other two simply by writing in a percentage or dollar amount beside each program he or she checks off on the pledge form," she said.
Ms. Mulcahy noted that CSF will hold its annual fund drive in April 2000. Following that, the CSF may decide to eliminate the separate spring campaign.
For more information on the Community Giving at MIT campaign, contact Ms. Mulcahy at ekm@mit.edu or Annmarie Cameron of the Office of Special Community Services at acameron@mit.edu or x3-7914, or see the campaign web site.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on November 17, 1999.
