It’s easy to think of The Wellesley Fund as just an annual fund, but it goes far beyond that. The Wellesley Fund is truly the backbone of the College. Not only does it support Wellesley’s robust financial aid packages, it strengthens the College’s 50-plus programs across all disciplines. It also funds exciting student research projects and enhances extracurricular opportunities like House Council and the climbing club. When you give to The Wellesley Fund, you’re doing more than donating—you’re ensuring that future generations of students have the resources and opportunities to follow their dreams, break barriers, and excel in ways they might not have imagined.
Jessica Speiser ’97 has experienced the life-changing power of those kinds of resources personally. A political science major who attended Wellesley with the help of a financial aid package, Jessica has pursued her passions and made a lasting impact on her community. As an alumna, she has been committed to giving to The Wellesley Fund for over 27 years: “I give to Wellesley to ensure girls like me, born into difficult circumstances, get to go to the College, see value in themselves, and succeed in whatever path they choose,” she says. Initially, she directed her donations toward financial aid so that students facing financial challenges could benefit from the same opportunities she had. Over the years, she has shifted her support to focus on areas of greatest impact, trusting that Wellesley will allocate these funds to address its most pressing priorities.
A critical component of Wellesley’s annual operating budget, The Wellesley Fund allows the College to respond to urgent needs and create transformative opportunities for students like Jessica in the current fiscal year. It is this flexibility that makes The Wellesley Fund so powerful. Whether recruiting outstanding faculty, providing mental health resources, or building an exceptional living and learning environment, every dollar directly supports the ongoing needs of current students. In today’s challenging economic landscape, your gift to The Wellesley Fund is more important than ever.
