As RPI enters its third century, we seek to engage alumni, parents, and friends in key regions throughout the country where there is an active and high concentration of alumni parents, and friends. These members of the RPI community are innovators, technology leaders, venture capitalists, senior executives, and entrepreneurs.
Created in 2019 to strengthen the connection between RPI and these groups, Executive Councils were established in the Silicon Valley, Capital Region, Greater New York, New England, and Texas Triangle regions. The Executive Councils offer opportunities for engagement of alumni, parents and friends around philanthropy, networking, graduate recruitment, and student placement, and seek to strengthen partnerships among individuals, companies, foundations, government agencies, and the Institute.
Members of the Executive Councils lead the networks and foster connections among notable alumni in the region through conversations and events that align with the Institute’s expertise in groundbreaking interdisciplinary research and innovative education.
Purpose of the Councils
Roles of Council Members
Structure of Councils
Charitable Giving
Benefits
Purpose of the Councils
Participate in Philanthropy
- To help identify and engage key alumni, parents, friends, and organizations in the region who can, through their philanthropy and involvement, help the Institute accomplish its mission.
- To provide leadership in fundraising in the region.
- To support the current and future campaigns.
Be Brand Ambassadors
- Host thought leadership and networking events to showcase alumni and Institute leadership and academic priorities.
- Liaise with alumni serving as regional and corporate ambassadors.
- Represent and promote the RPI brand at their place of business and in the community.
Support Networking, Recruitment, Placement and Partnership Opportunities
- Network with individuals in these key areas and connect them back to RPI.
- Support recruitment and hiring of RPI graduates.
- Partner with RPI to build stronger corporate and foundation connections.
- Promote incoming student recruitment.
Roles of Council Members
- Participate in quarterly meetings devoting time, resources, counsel, and connections to help further the activities of the Council and the Institute.
- These meetings are generally hosted by a member of the Council and will primarily be conducted in person, with one meeting being coordinated virtually.
- Assist in the identification and engagement of influential or highly regarded alumni and parents, as well as prospective donors within the region, working in conjunction with advancement and alumni staff.
- Serve as ambassadors for RPI and enhance the reach of our ideas through their networks.
- Guide promising students pursuing careers within the region.
- Provide strategic guidance and support based on their own expertise as leaders.
- With support from the Institute, host, coordinate, or attend intimate gatherings of alumni and/or parents to help engage small groups of friends connected to RPI around specific Institute programs.
- Share a message of the importance of philanthropy and engagement both at events in the region and with alumni, parents, and friends individually.
- Assist in recruiting future Council members through mentoring and fostering, including the participation of recent alumni.
- Attend, whenever possible, local Institute events.
Structure of Councils
- Regional Councils will be chaired by a member of the RPI Board of Trustees or another leadership volunteer approved and appointed by the Vice President for Institute Advancement.
- Regional Council members are approved and appointed by the Vice President for Institute Advancement.
- Regional Council members serve five-year terms, each term renewable with discussion.
- The local RAA chapter president, member of the RAA Executive Committee, or proxy will be a member of the Council during the time that he or she serves in that capacity to help ensure coordination in these key regional markets.
- A maximum size of 25 Council members is recommended.
- Suggested committees or task groups may include Council Membership, Events, Bicentennial, and Campaign.
- Executive Councils will meet 3 – 4 times a year, either in person or virtually.
- Proposed sequence and purpose of meetings would include:
- Fall – September/October kick off – President to attend
- Map out the year and have a calendar for members including meeting dates.
- Late Fall/Winter
- Winter
- Spring
- A meeting of Council leaders and/or all Council members will be organized at least once a year by the Institute so that these leadership volunteers are given the opportunity to share ideas and activities, re-focusing and renewing their efforts to align with the priorities of the Institute.
Charitable Giving
- Executive Council giving level is $50,000 over five-year period
- Council members are asked to make the Institute one of their top philanthropic priorities.
- Council members are invited to make an annual gift to the Institute that can be designated to any school, unit, or fund within the Institute. Minimum suggested giving level:
- Council members are also asked to support additional campaigns or special initiatives or choose to include the Institute in their estate plans in addition to their regular, annual support.
Benefits
- Advance the mission and priorities of RPI.
- Priority access to RPI leadership, cutting-edge research on campus, including opportunities for partnership, investment, and recruitment.
- Serve as a key advisor to the Executive Council Chair and Co-chair and as a recognized brand ambassador for RPI throughout the region.
- VIP Invitations to presidential, networking, and alumni events in the region, with an opportunity to engage with Institute leadership.
- Invitations to serve as a thought leader and expert on panels at high-profile engagements and alumni events focused on innovation, intellectual discovery, and entrepreneurship.
- Invitations to small-scale gatherings with influential leaders in academia, business, government, and philanthropy.
- Opportunity to host alumni and fellow executive council members.
