Every five years, Rice graduates return to campus to reconnect with classmates and celebrate their milestone reunion during Alumni Weekend. Reunion classes also mark the occasion by making a collective class gift to Rice — a tradition that strengthens the university for the next generation of Owls.
By contributing to your reunion gift, you help ensure that current and future students enjoy the same extraordinary education and experience that shaped your own Rice journey.
Reunion Giving Campaigns
Reunion classes honor the education they received and preserve the incredible Rice experience for future generations by making a class gift.
What counts?
Gifts made anywhere to Rice during the five-year counting period (the reunion year plus the four previous years) count toward the class total, with each class presenting their gift at the homecoming football game during Alumni Weekend.
Goals and Progress
Each class works toward unique donor and dollar goals. To see giving goals and progress for current reunion classes, visit the Reunion Class webpages.
The Rice Fund
While all gifts during the counting period count toward the reunion class gift, The Rice Fund remains the primary vehicle for alumni to support their reunion campaigns and to address the core needs of Rice students.
Enhance Your Reunion Gift
Multi-year Pledges
The total amount of all new pledges recorded during the five-year counting period will be counted in the class gift total.
Matching Gifts
Many companies offer gift-matching programs, which can double or triple employees’ or retirees’ personal gifts to Rice. All matching gifts received in the five-year counting period and all matching gifts expected within a multi-year pledge will be counted.
Deferred Gifts
Bequests and other deferred gifts documented by an alumnus will count in their 50th Golden Reunion.
Please direct any questions about your reunion gift to reunion@rice.edu.
Reunion Volunteers
Reunion volunteers are essential to sustaining the philanthropic spirit that defines each class’s celebration. They inspire their classmates to support Rice’s students and faculty through gifts to The Rice Fund and other meaningful university programs. Additionally, they’re a driving force behind reunion engagement, encouraging classmates to return to campus to celebrate their class reunion and attend other Alumni Weekend activities. Reunion volunteers are also honored at an appreciation brunch the morning after the game to recognize their impact on Rice and its students.
Consider joining us as a reunion committee member or reunion chair. Contact the Reunion and Volunteer Giving team at 713-348-4991 or reunion@rice.edu for more information about how you can become an advocate for Rice during your reunion year.
Reunion committee members serve a one-year term (Jan. 1-Dec. 31) during your reunion year. Responsibilities include:
- Making a gift to any area of Rice in honor of your reunion.
- Asking 10-15 classmates for gifts in honor of your reunion.
- Inviting classmates to attend reunion festivities.
- Attending committee training sessions and scheduled calls.
- Helping gather contact information for classmates
- Utilizing Rice’s volunteer management system to send solicitations, encourage attendance and thank donors.
- Attending Rice’s events in Houston or your city when possible.
- Celebrating results at Alumni Weekend by attending events, receptions and the football game.
Reunion chair responsibilities include all the above, plus:
- Providing leadership and direction for the reunion giving campaign.
- Recruiting a committee of diverse classmates to contact fellow alumni.
- Participating in the cultivation and solicitation of classmates for leadership gifts.
- Working with Rice staff to set dollar and participation goals/strategies.
- Lending your name and input to Rice fundraising solicitations for the class.
Giving to Rice
Development & Alumni Relations
P.O. BOX 1892
Houston, Texas 77251-1892
Phone: 713-348-4991
Email: giving@rice.edu
