Press release
A 100 million euro campaign to reach HEC’s ambitions
Jouy-en-Josas, 22nd Octobre 2008
Raise 100 million euros by 2013. Here is the HEC Foundation’s challenge as it launches
its first capital campaign ever.
To tackle increasingly fierce international competition and strengthen its European
leadership, HEC now has to turn to alumni and corporate fundraising to secure vital
additional income.
Thanks to a unique and engaged alumni network, 40 million euros have already been
pledged.
“Since its creation in 1972, the HEC Foundation has been supporting HEC’s development.
Through this unprecedented effort, we wish to provide major and sustainable support to
HEC’s three funding priorities: 1. attract best talented students -whatever their
backgrounds and financial means- thanks to competitive scholarship programmes; 2.
nurture innovative research and disseminate cutting-edge knowledge in order to
strengthen business competitiveness; 3. Upgrade pedagogical tools on campus to
today's technological challenges and business practices” says Daniel Bernard, President
of HEC Foundation.
For Bertrand Léonard, Chairman of the Campaign committee: “In today’s
competitive business education environment, HEC has to continue attracting the very best
professors and students from around the world. A campaign committee representing
different donors’ profiles has been formed to lead our fundraising efforts and act as our
ambassador throughout the HEC community. The dedication and enthusiasm of our
campaign committee members represent real assets to take up these challenges
successfully.”
More and more collective initiatives are led by alumni groups to collect funds. Even
graduating students are mobilized with the now traditional “class gift” initiated in 2005 by
three students in order to raise money for scholarships before graduation. In 2008, results
have grown fourfold: the Class Gift has set a new record with €200.000 collected thanks to a
1:1 matching grant from the HEC 1958 50th anniversary gift!
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In parallel, many alumni support their school through individual private donations, large or
modest, one-off or multi-year.
Henri de Castries, CEO AXA Group, a corporate partner of the HEC Foundation, has
recently given a personal donation of €1 million. As Henri de Castries says: “Today more
than ever, our business schools’ competitiveness is vital to our countries’ competitiveness. To
flourish in a global economy, HEC has to reach out to excellence as its competitors do. HEC’s
capital campaign is a wonderful opportunity for all alumni to give back to their alma mater.
Everyone knows that giving back is much more rewarding than receiving.”
Florian Grill, Founder and President of CoSpirit, has always been very active in the
HEC community, first as a student and then as an alumnus. As class representative, he has
led by example and pledged €10.000 over the next 5 years to support his 20th anniversary
gift. “Making a gift is a worthwhile investment: it helps promote our school’s reputation
and strengthen the value of our degree in a highly competitive environment.”
50 corporate partners are currently members of the HEC Foundation. By joining the
HEC Foundation, companies invest in HEC campus life by creating strong ties with the
faculty and the students, by engaging in pedagogical means and by contributing to HEC
teaching and research strategy.
As of today, they are supporting the HEC Foundation:
- 40 Major Donors (out of which one €5 million gift, five €1 million gifts and
five €500.000 gifts)
- 2 Diamond donors (€100.000) and 6 Platinum donors (€50.000 euros)
- 7 Gold donors (€25.000 euros), 40 Silver donors (€10.000) and 41 Bronze donors (€5.000)
- In 2008, 975 alumni have made a gift and, since 2005, 2510 have given at least once.
Xavier Romatet, CEO Condé Nast Publications and President of the HEC Alumni
Association, says: “All alumni, wherever they are, understand that HEC’s long-standing
strategy now needs strong support from them, both through financial and valuable
commitment.”
“I am grateful for our corporate partners and our alumni’s outstanding support thanks to
which we have been able to recruit the best research professors and offer attractive
scholarships to French and international students with financial needs” concludes Bernard
Ramanantsoa, Dean of HEC.
With the launch of
, the HEC Foundation is keen to become a major
contributor to HEC’s development and a long-standing partner by building up an endowment
fund of €50 million which will guarantee sustainable income for HEC.
Contacts presse HEC :
Richard Perrin, Directeur de la communication, 01 39 67 74 84, perrin@hec.fr
Elisabeth de Réals, 01 39 67 94 23, dereals@hec.fr
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