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When you give to RIT,
you spark big ideas that
shape tomorrow’s leaders today.
Gifts to the RIT Fund provide the critical resources necessary for RIT to meet its most immediate needs. Endowment spending only covers about four percent of the annual operating budget but truly unrestricted support provides university leadership the flexibility to prioritize the needs of our students.
Unrestricted gifts provide resources that allow university leadership to take advantage of unanticipated academic and student life opportunities, make life-changing international experiences accessible, offer powerful career building and research programs, and react to numerous unforeseen challenges our students face.
Impact Stories
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Lynne Damianos AAS ’79, BS ’81
When Lynne Damianos AAS ’79, BS ’81 was at RIT, there was no architectural photography major. However, from early on in her studies, she knew that’s what she wanted to do.
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Susan O’Rourke BS ’66
As a retailing major, Susan O’Rourke BS ’66, had no idea how connected she’d be to RIT history. She spent her RIT college years on the downtown campus, and got a preview of what was to come for the university, a time that came full circle 50 years later.
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Dedication to the lasting impact and transformative power of education
Paul Senior MBA ‘72 has been a steadfast supporter of his alma mater for over five decades. His unwavering dedication to giving back to RIT is a testament to the transformative power of education and the lasting impact it can have on an individual's life.
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Breaking barriers for DEI programs through Sentinel Society
Alumna Krystle Jones-Ellis BS ’09 MS ’15, College of Liberal Arts, is a Sentinel Society founding member.
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Your gifts make great campus spaces
Did you know that students applying to RIT rate the quality of the facilities equal in importance to preparation for careers? That’s why continued support of outstanding campus facilities is so important.
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The importance of finding your "people"
The catalog from RIT came to her in the mail, and at the time she didn't know anything about RIT. She only remembers opening the catalog and saying, "Ah, this is the school I want!"
Your Impact Today and Tomorrow
RIT is deeply appreciative of our generous philanthropic community and its commitment to the university.
The Sentinel Society is a community of annual leadership donors who play a pivotal role in providing unrestricted gifts that support financial aid and scholarships, as well as RIT's most pressing and immediate needs across campus. Sentinel donor generosity helps RIT fund unexpected needs and pursue emerging opportunities. Learn more about Sentinel Society and view the online Honor Roll.
The Ellingson Society honors those forward-thinking individuals and families who have informed us of their legacy gifts that in the future will fund RIT's greatest needs. The thoughtful planning of Ellingson Society donors ensures unlimited possibilities for future generations of students and faculty. Learn more about planned giving and the impact you can make by visiting legacyrit.org.
News
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September 21, 2023
![collage of 10 winery, cidery, and brewery logos.]()
Brick City weekend features RIT Alumni Oktoberfest Oct. 14
Alumni brewers, winemakers, and cidermakers from 10 businesses will be on hand to answer questions and provide samples at the second annual RIT Alumni Oktoberfest on Oct. 14.
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September 8, 2023
![two college professors standing next to each other, both wearing R I T medallions around their necks.]()
Two faculty members installed as Harris Endowed Professors in RIT’s College of Science
Christopher Collison was appointed to the Jane King Harris Endowed Professorship and Emmett Ientilucci was selected for the Gerald W. Harris Endowed Professorship by College of Science Dean Andre Hudson. RIT alumnus Jeffrey Harris ’75 (photographic science and instrumentation) and his partner, Joyce Pratt, established the professorships in 2022 with a generous gift in honor of Harris’s parents, the namesakes of the positions.
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August 14, 2023
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Alumni come together to produce new film, ‘Blue Hour: The Disappearance of Nick Brandreth’
Alumni from RIT’s photography programs joined forces to create a new film, Blue Hour: The Disappearance of Nick Brandreth, now streaming on Amazon Prime.
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June 28, 2023
![side-by-side images of comedian Melissa Villasenor and YouTube star Hank Green.]()
Comic Melissa Villaseñor and internet icon Hank Green scheduled for RIT’s Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend
Former Saturday Night Live cast member Melissa Villaseñor and Hank Green, an internet icon, are scheduled to appear at RIT’s Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend in October. Villaseñor got her start as a semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent. Green began making YouTube videos about science in 2007 and now has a social media following of more than 20 million.
For additional information, please contact us.
Our team is available to provide further clarification and assistance, and can be reached by phone at 585-475-5500 or toll-free at 1-800-477-0376, or by email at givetorit@rit.edu. We welcome the opportunity to answer any questions you may have and assist you in making a meaningful impact through your giving to RIT.