AMHERST — Hampshire College announced its second seven-figure donation in the last week with a $2 million gift from alumna and retired NASA scientist Lucy McFadden.
McFadden’s donation follows last week’s announcement of a $5 million gift from Paula H. and James S. Crown — the largest single donation the college has received since its founding. With the contribution, Paula and James, who was a member of one of Hampshire’s first graduating classes, challenged members of the first five classes at Hampshire to contribute to the college’s campaign to raise $60 million by 2024.
The Crowns pledged to match donations for up to $5 million from members of the college’s “founding” classes, and McFadden will join them for a collective effort of matching donations for up to $7 million.
McFadden’s gift “speaks to her generosity and commitment to the college,” Hampshire President Ed Wingenbach told the Gazette.
“She believes in what we’re doing and believes in the importance of experimentation and innovation,” Wingenbach said, “but specifically, the vision that we developed together as a community last year to try to imagine the future of higher education and liberal arts education in a post-pandemic world.”
A member of the college’s first graduating class, McFadden has an asteroid, 3066 McFadden, in her namesake. She has mentored students at Hampshire and sits on the college’s board of trustees.
In a statement, McFadden said she is “thrilled to further commit to the future of Hampshire along with my friend Jim Crown.
“I found my passion for scientific exploration at Hampshire, like so many students who’ve had scientific fields opened for them by the college’s distinctive and collaborative approach to STEM,” she continued. “After a long and fulfilling career exploring our solar system, I can’t think of anywhere more deserving of my support.”
Hampshire has received 10 multimillion dollar gifts throughout its history, Wingenbach said, in addition to a couple others that were at least $1 million. The college opened in 1970 and is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary year.
The college has raised $22,583,810 toward its $60 million goal, as of Monday, after launching the campaign in 2019. Including McFadden’s gift, the college has received $3.13 million since it announced the Crowns’ gift last Wednesday.
Part of that contribution comes from other members of the board of trustees, Wingenbach said, who have all made multiyear donation commitments to Hampshire. Other gifts have come from alumni, parents of students and others who are invested in Hampshire’s future.
Hampshire kicked off the campaign late last year as part of a plan to regain financial stability and full enrollment after the college, then under different leadership, underwent a financial crisis that threatened its existence as an independent college.
Since taking the helm in summer 2019, Wingenbach has asserted his confidence in Hampshire’s future, even amid financial hits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The donations from McFadden and the Crowns will inspire others outside of the college community to hold this same belief in Hampshire’s long-term success, Wingenbach said.
“We know internally that Hampshire is in a good spot, and we’re well on our way to where we need to be,” Wingenbach said, “but it’s much easier to persuade an external audience with that when you see $7 million of unrestricted gifts over the course of a couple weeks.”
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.