Finding Meaning in Supporting Students Through Philanthropy Councils
In 2020, Rod Moore (’89), a retired naval officer, got an unexpected call. Would he be interested in joining a Philanthropy Council at Embry-Riddle’s College of Engineering in Prescott?
The alumnus with a bachelor’s in Aeronautical Engineering and master’s in Civil Engineering agreed.
He was recovering from a traumatic brain injury. “I didn’t know it at the time, but I was looking for purpose again,” he said.
He says the experience lit a fire under him. In addition to giving $2,000 a year for three years — split between scholarships and student projects in the college — council members choose student projects to fund while engaging and mentoring the students.
“When I got a chance to start reviewing all these projects, I got really excited again — and then to actually ask questions and have a chance to interact with the students is probably the most rewarding part of it. And to share our experiences as council members with them, and to have them give their perspectives and ask questions — that kind of engagement was really the most important part of the council, whether or not the projects got funded.”
The Funded Project That Lit the Fire
In fall 2020, they had a week to prepare to pitch their project to a new Philanthropy Council panel. They were awarded funding and then again in 2021, receiving approximately $8,000 in support from the council.
At a recent test flight in the Mojave Desert, the rocket cleared the launchpad reaching Mach 2. But a problem with the structure ended the flight prematurely. The team is investigating and aiming for their official maiden launch.
“It’s about doing the hard things and pushing the boundaries — that is why we are trying to get to space,” said Guarav Nene, the project’s principal investigator and a senior in Astronautical
Engineering from Seattle. “And as far as we know, only one other university has successfully done this with a student-built rocket.”
Nene said the support from alumni on the Philanthropy Council since its inception has helped their nascent project, which includes three other members: David Hadley, a junior in Mechanical Engineering on the Robotics track from Seattle; William Knoblauch, a junior in Mechanical Engineering on the Propulsion track from San Antonio, Texas; and Cooper Eastwood, a senior in Astronautical Engineering from Los Angeles.
The financial support from the council is bringing their project to the finish line, Eastwood says.
“That large chunk of funding really put us in place to get this project all the way through so all four of us can see this through the end — so we can actually accomplish our goal of getting into space. Those alumni, they’ve been with us throughout two years now. And they’ll be able to see our progress.”
It’s the encouragement that has proved invaluable, according to Nene.
“I know for our team it feels like we are taking a community of alumni along the ride with us,” Nene said. “I feel like there is a unique sense of community when we talk about our progress every year with them. We know them by name, we know their stories and they know ours.”
A Rising Trajectory
Excited by his interaction with these students and others, Moore says that Philanthropy Council activities allow alumni to reflect on, “Where does Embry-Riddle fit in my trajectory?”
For Moore, that trajectory with Embry-Riddle is onward and upward. Since being involved with the Council, he’s been inspired to become even more involved. He made a gift to the dean to support professional development. And he and his wife, Amy, created an endowed scholarship, including a planned gift, to create a legacy that contributes to future student success.
What started for Moore as a commitment to Council service has now grown into a realization that such service can change lives — including his own. “I have an opportunity to serve again — and that’s what I’ve missed is serving,” he says. “This was a way on the council to serve and to further Embry-Riddle’s reputation, to get a chance to be an amplifier for education, for service — and in my personal case, to be an amplifier for perseverance, overcoming obstacles and paying it forward.”
Philanthropy Councils: A Launchpad for Meaningful Engagement
Philanthropy Councils have skyrocketed since they were started two years ago with four councils each at Embry-Riddle colleges in Prescott and Daytona Beach. Members have given more than $600,000 through membership giving and have collectively pledged nearly $1 million in additional gifts.
This model of engaging alumni and supporters with students and campuses is only continuing to grow. This year, Jenni Craig, senior director of philanthropy, who leads the programs, is launching new giving circles — in addition to the Women’s Giving Circle — one for military and veterans, as well as the Flight Society, which involve members contributing $100 a month for three years and supporting their related campus interest groups. There are also high-impact councils at $5,000 a year for three years, such as for the Research Park and for campus leadership initiatives that will target large-scale growth.
“If you are looking for a more personal, meaningful way to support student success at Embry-Riddle, then joining a Philanthropy Council is a great way to go,” says Craig. “We’re asking everyone to be engaged and get involved. It’s a chance to watch your philanthropy at work firsthand in the lives of our students.”
To learn more about the Philanthropy Councils, contact Jenni Craig at 386-226-7342 or craigj10@erau.edu.