The University of Mississippi has the extraordinary opportunity to become the academic leader in creating a new paradigm of visionary leadership through the Ole Miss Women's Council for Philanthropy. This mission, however, cannot be accomplished without the commitment of those who, regardless of gender, value our university's potential as the nation's incubator for future leaders.

General Support

Donors can help make the Women's Council Scholarship Program a reality through a variety of ways, from small individual gifts to larger contributions. The Scholarship Endowment Fund can be supported at the following giving levels:

Benefactor $10,000+
Sponsor $5,000-$9,999
Supporter $2,500-$4,999
Investor $1,000-$2,499
Initiator $500-$999
Colleague $100-$499
Friend $1-$99

Honor a Woman

Donors may wish to create an endowment for a Council Scholarship to be named after a woman in their lives. Donations of $100,000 pledged as $20,000 annually for five years, or $10,000 annually for 10 years will provide an annual scholarship of $5,000. Sample scenarios follow:

-A woman names a scholarship after herself or an important woman in her life
-A man names a scholarship after his wife, daughter, mother, sister or friend
-A family names a scholarship after a female member
-A business or organization names a scholarship after a woman
-A group of individuals collaborate to name a scholarship after a woman

Once a scholarship is created, a rose bush will be planted in a special garden on the Ole Miss-Oxford campus. Engraved plaques will be placed in the garden, as well, naming the donors and those they honor.

Plan Your Estate

Consider setting up an endowment for a Council Scholarship through estate planning with The University of Mississippi Foundation. Those who either fund or plan a deferred gift, such as a bequest or a life income plan may, if they wish, become members of the 1848 Society a group of alumni and friends of Ole Miss who provide extraordinary support for academic programs.

Initiatives

Another way to support the Council and its scholars is through its new initiative program. Groups of 20, whether organizations, foundations, business owners, corporate sponsors, or friends and alumni of Ole Miss, can each pledge $1,000 for five years. Once the $100,000 level is reached, a scholarship will be named in honor of the group, etc.

Several initiatives programs for future endowed scholarships are already started, including The Oxford Business Women's Fund and The Center for the Study of Southern Culture Fund.

For more information about the Ole Miss Women's Council for Philanthropy or the Council Scholarship Endowment Program, please contact The University of Mississippi Foundation at (622) 915-5944 or (800) 340-9542 or go to http://www.umf.olemiss.edu/. Gifts can also be made online at http://www.umf.olemiss.edu/giving/Default.asp.