Introducing our Development Office, led by YDS alum Jim Hackney. You will all have the opportunity to meet Jim during BTFO but here’s an intro to the office that spends all of their time raising money to support our education!
The Development Office at YDS consists of the following people:
- Jim Hackney ’79 M.A.R., Senior Director of Development
- James Ebert ’97 M.Div., Director of Major Gifts
- Michelle Gall ’80 B.S. Senior Administrative Assistant
- Diana Empsall Development Coordinator
We are also supported by a group of 4-7 current students who work part time with us.
We are responsible for raising funds for all aspects of YDS. We currently are focused on increasing student scholarships and raising funds to build a new Living Village for students to live in. We are also responsible for stewardship for all contributed funds that people have given in the past.
If you receive a scholarship from YDS, you will be notified in late fall of who the donor was and asked to write a letter telling them about yourself. If the scholarship was set up so long ago that the donor or any family members are no longer alive, we ask you to write the Dean. YDS currently has over 3,000 active donors who support us because of their belief of the difference our students can make in this world! This is an amazing connection.
It costs YDS over $67,000 a year per student, yet tuition is only $24,920 a year. This is possible because of the gifts that people have made in the past and are making currently. 95% of our current students receive financial aid through the Divinity School - that is all made possible by these donors. More of our alumni make annual gifts to YDS than any other group of seminary alumni to any school in the United States.
Jim and James spend a lot of time traveling to meet with donors. We also work very closely with the Alumni and Communications office on events, public relations and anything that deals with external affairs. Come say hello and if you are asked to write a letter, submit a picture or anything else, please help us help you!