Dear Alumnae and Friends,

As you are undoubtedly aware, Rutgers University recently issued an ultimatum to the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College that will result in gutting our historic mission to promote Douglass College students and alumnae and support innovative education and leadership development for the tens of thousands of women who have walked through her doors for nearly a century. To accomplish its goals, the University has made untrue and unsubstantiated allegations, while unilaterally cutting off the AADC's computer access and disrupting our operations.

Many of you have responded to this egregious act by contacting University President Robert Barchi, who issued a response claiming that his "intention is to ensure that funds raised for Douglass Residential College are raised in the most efficient ways possible and to ensure transparency."  Please consider the following facts:

The AADC's Management of Donations is Accountable, Transparent, and Efficient:

The AADC's management of every single donation is accountable, transparent and efficient.  We review every donation personally in order to ensure that we honor the intent and direction of each donor. 

The Associate Alumnae of Douglass College and the Douglass Fund (a separate trust to benefit Douglass College, established by the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College) are audited annually by an independent accounting firm and have received a consistent record of unqualified opinions. This is the highest rating to be given to an organization for its financial controls.

One hundred percent of  gifts that are intended to be endowed are placed directly in the endowment.  The income from these endowed gifts is used to provide scholarships and support programs that benefit the College, with strict adherence to donors' specific wishes.  The AADC assesses a modest stewardship fee to defray the expenses of managing these funds.

A Committee meets periodically to review funds available for distribution and disbursement requests from the College to the Douglass Fund.  The Dean of the College and her appointee, currently a Rutgers finance representative, sit on this five-person Committee.  Therefore, Rutgers has direct knowledge of how these monies are being managed.  In turn, the AADC demands accountability for how the disbursed funds are being spent.

Annual contributions that are not endowed are transferred to the College if the donor designates a specific use for her contribution (for example, if the donor specifies that the money is intended for the Bunting Program or for the STEM initiative).  Other annual contributions may be used over the following fiscal year to plan and execute student and alumnae programs in fulfillment of the AADC mission.

Only a small percentage of these contributions is used to cover AADC overhead.  In part, this is made possible by the large number of committed volunteer workers that AADC has recruited from our loyal cadre of alumnae.  

The financial statements for AADC, including The Douglass Fund, are prepared according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), accounting requirements, and are audited annually by an independent accounting firm.  The Dean of Douglass, as a member of the AADC Board of Directors, has access to these financial statements and also has the opportunity to ask the auditor any questions she may have.

It is very unclear why Rutgers believes that more "efficiency" and "transparency" will be achieved under its proposed regime.  The University would like all donations to be directed to the Rutgers University Foundation, with a gift assessment imposed on every dollar. 

AADC asks for your support:

Rutgers University apparently will stop at nothing to decimate the AADC in order to direct all giving through the Rutgers University Foundation.  The RUF has many priorities.  The AADC, by contrast, is focused solely on the well-being of Douglass Residential College and women's higher education.

As we did a decade ago when the University threatened to shut down Douglass, the AADC will continue to fight for our mission, on behalf of the many women whose lives were transformed by the "Douglass difference," to ensure that Douglass continues to exist for future generations of women.  And as we did a decade ago, we will succeed -- but only with your help.

Please let the Board of Governors, President Barchi and Dean Litt know that eliminating the AADC's fundraising, program support and stewardship role is detrimental to the future of Douglass Residential College and women's education in general.  Ask that Rutgers sit down with the AADC's leadership to discuss and resolve these issues so that prospectively we can move forward together for the benefit of Rutgers University, DRC, her current and future students, and the loyal and generous Douglass alumnae. You may contact them via email at secretary@oldqueens.rutgers.edu, robert.barchi@rutgers.edu and jlitt@echo.rutgers.edu.