The NDSU Foundation’s cumulative giving societies recognize individuals and organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary generosity in their gifts to NDSU over the years.
The principal benefit of membership is the satisfaction of supporting the students, faculty, and staff at NDSU as it maintains a leadership role in higher education. The critical support of our membership provides the University an extra measure of strength and flexibility.
The 1862 Society is the highest form of public recognition for private support given to NDSU. Established in 1990, the society gets its name from the year Congress passed the Morrill Act, creating America’s land-grant universities. In 2012, the 1862 Society was expanded to recognize increased levels. We will honor donors as they reach the following Legacy levels. For cumulative gifts and pledges over $1 million, the donor will be recognized for the $1 Million Legacy Level. For cumulative gifts and pledges over $10 million, the donor will be recognized for the $10 Million Legacy Level. For cumulative gifts and pledges over $25 million, the donor will be recognized for the $25 Million Legacy Level.
The Founders Society is named after the group of North Dakotans who were instrumental in the establishment of NDSU in 1890.
Membership is accorded to those who: (1) have made an outright gift of $500,000 or more, (2) have made accumulated gifts totaling $500,000 or more, or (3) have made a pledge to give $500,000 or more.
The Old Main Society is named after NDSU’s most recognized landmark.
Membership is accorded to those who: (1) have made an outright gift of $250,000 or more, (2) have made cumulative gifts of $250,000 or more, or (3) have made a pledge to give $250,000 or more.
Membership is accorded to those who: (1) have made an outright gift of $25,000 or more, (2) have made accumulated gifts totaling $25,000 or more, or (3) have made a pledge to give $25,000 or more.
Membership in each society is also offered to all individuals and couples who let us know, via written documentation, that they included NDSU in their estate plans or as a beneficiary of another type of planned gift, regardless of the amount and regardless of its binding status. Gift commitments that qualify include:
Membership for each society is based on lifetime cumulative giving including current and deferred gift commitments.
Margaret and her husband, Hugh Veit ’79, established the Eleanor S. Fitzgerald Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship to support NDSU students earning advanced degrees in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences or the Department of Human Development and Family Science.
Core areas of home economics remain part of current NDSU degree programs such as accounting; apparel, retail merchandising, and design; education; family and consumer science; financial planning; human development and family science; interior design; and nutrition science.
Home economics programs opened doors, particularly for women, to earn college degrees and pursue careers in education, Extension, state and federal government, business and industry, health care, and more. NDAC listed domestic economy as one of its courses in its founding year, 1890.
Established by Dr. Teresa Conner, dean of the NDSU College of Health and Human Sciences, and co-chaired by Dr. Margaret Fitzgerald ’83 and Col. Esther Meyers ’75, the Wisdom Keepers provide support and share their knowledge and expertise with students, faculty, staff, and leadership in the College.
The home management house at NDAC was the first facility built on a college campus specifically for home management practice. In 1954, it was named in honor of Alba Bales, the first female academic dean at NDAC.