Alumni Council campaign supports students’ career preparation
May 21, 2026 — Through peer-to-peer outreach, the Grinnell Alumni Council’s Philanthropy Committee raised $16,334 in February for grants that students can receive from the Center f orCareers, Life, and Service (CLS).
The CLS administers these need-based grants to help students with professional development activities, acquire professional attire for interviews, conferences, and related activities, and participate in interviews for post-graduate opportunities including full-time positions, fellowships, graduate schools, and professional schools.
“We strive to make our philanthropy efforts highly relevant,” says Council member David Kurzman ’96. “Given the uncertainty in the employment marketplace, an opportunity to make it a little easier for students who need to travel or obtain interview practice or clothes seemed highly relevant. In discussion with CLS, they highlighted this need, and we felt it was a smart idea.”
Alumni Council member David Kurzman ’96, right, talks to second-year students during a CLS event earlier this school year.
The CLS grants also were easy for donors to relate with, says Council member Natz Soberanes ’13.
“As we did our outreach and explained our goals, I think it was a cause that connected with everyone,” she says. “Everyone has professional experience, and at one time or another had to take part in interviews or professional development.”
Chaired by Dawn Helsing Wolters ’87 and Jay Dick ’93, the Alumni Council’s Philanthropy Committee works with annual giving leadership to connect alumni with opportunities to make a tangible impact for the College and for current students.
A year ago, the Committee spearheaded a fundraising effort for a lounge and community room for First-Gen Low-Income (FGLI) students, which is now called the Dr. Michelle Rebelsky Memorial First Generation and Low-Income Lounge.
For this year’s project, all 26 Council members made gifts in support of the CLS grants. Committee members then reached out about the campaign to classmates and friends. In all there were 76 donors to the campaign, whose class years ranged from the 1960s through the 2020s.
“This is a case where donors who gave smaller gifts could feel like they are having an impact” says Council member Bob Eckardt ’73. “That was important. It’s a compelling story what a couple hundred of dollars could mean.”
Dawn Helsing Wolters ’87, co-chair of the the Alumni Council’s Philanthropy Committee, talks with students at the Awkward-Free Networking Reception in November.
The average grant for students is about $400. Zev Zentner ’25 received a grant last school year to allow her to travel for an interview at a Rabbinical school over spring break.
“The support I received with my grant also meant I could truly do my best in my interview without stressing about the cost of my flight back to Grinnell,” Zentner says. “The CLS funding I received for my interview was accompanied by years of support from the CLS staff and generous alums.”
Mark Peltz, Daniel and Patricia Jipp Finkelman Dean of Careers, Life and Service, says the Alumni Council’s work to fundraise for the need-based grants is a powerful expression of alumni philanthropy and stewardship.
“We are deeply grateful for their leadership and investment, which expands students’ access to critical professional development experiences. Their generosity ensures that all students, regardless of financial circumstances, can confidently present themselves, meaningfully engage in professional development, and prepare for lives of purpose and leadership beyond Grinnell.”
While the CLS in its current form didn’t exist for most of the Alumni Council when they were students, Council members recognize it’s a crucial component for today’s students.
“You could say that none of these experiences are directly Grinnell’s responsibility or related to the degrees students are getting, but the College recognizes it is the bridge to the future,” Wolters says about the CLS. “Every one of us has made that transition and struggled with it at times. It’s impactful knowing that we can help make it less of a barrier for students taking their next steps.”
—by Jeremy Shapiro