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 Green Music Center | Academic Priorities | Annual Fund | Leave a Legacy | Green Music Festival | Wine Business Program The Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, on the campus of Sonoma State University in Sonoma County wine country, will offer audiences, artists, educators and students one of the world’s finest venues in which to share their passion for music, arts and ideas. The centerpiece of the GMC will be the magnificent 1,400-seat Concert Hall. The hall has been designed to replicate the outstanding acoustics and intimacy of two of the best concert halls in the world, the historic Grosser Musikvereinsaal in Vienna, and the ten-year-old Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood in western Massachusetts, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its internationally known educational programs. Like the highly-regarded Ozawa Hall, the back door of the Concert Hall will slide open, allowing outdoor audiences of up to 10,000 to enjoy live performances from the expansive lawn. Complementing the Concert Hall will be the intimate 300-seat Recital Hall, featuring the soaring spaces and acoustics of 17th century European cathedrals, ideally suited to choral music, recitals and all forms of chamber music. Once built, the Green Music Center will feature a unique, dynamic balance between arts and education—and between arts, artists and audiences. The Center's vision to "aim high, reach wide, educate all," includes a commitment to excellence in the creative programming of music, arts and ideas. Across many genres, the programming will feature a mix of great artists, and great works, along with up-and-coming artists and new works. The programming of the GMC will reflect and exploit its unique characteristics—an intimate, world-class concert hall, plus the outdoor capacity for thousands of people. The GMC will also be the new home of the Santa Rosa Symphony and the summertime Green Music Festival, and enable expansion of the excellent performing arts curriculum at SSU. To learn more about the Green Music Center and how you can become a part of this exciting opportunity, please contact: Patricia McNeill, Vice President for Development Robin Draper, Associate Vice President for Development Greenfarm
The Arts and Education program of the Green Music Center, Greenfarm offers a year-round program of rich, interactive, arts-centered learning experiences for students of all ages and backgrounds. Greenfarm's summer youth programs are specifically designed to provide young artists with the highest quality performance training under the guidance of university faculty and performing arts professionals. For more information about giving to Greenfarm, please contact: Robin Draper, Associate Vice President for Development
 The development office manages ongoing efforts to raise major gifts in support of the University’s academic priorities. Each year the provost and academic deans define the areas of greatest need and participate in fundraising efforts on behalf of their schools and departments. For information regarding academic priorities at Sonoma State University,
please contact: Patricia McNeill, Freshman Year Experience
The goal of the Sonoma State University Freshman Year Experience is to provide a foundation for the development of critical thinking and communication skills. The curriculum is designed and delivered by teams of leading faculty from a variety of disciplines, working in collaboration to combine master lectures with smaller seminars led by each faculty member. The small seminars challenge freshmen to engage in the material, develop insights and analytical skills, and effectively express their viewpoints in seminar discussions and in writing. A $2 million endowment is needed to establish and maintain the Freshman Year Experience.
An unusually diverse school, the School of Arts and Humanities instructional programs include Applied Arts, Art, Creative Writing, Music, and Theatre Arts. Programs in the humanities include American Multicultural Studies, English, Modern Languages and Literatures, California Cultural Studies, Communications Studies, Chicano Latino Studies, Native American Studies, and Philosophy. The School also houses the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies, a variety of pre-law programs and oversees the Center for Performing Arts. Funding priorities include: An endowed chair and professorships,
reassigned time for faculty, the development of a lecture series
to showcase the School’s broad-based curriculum, and expansion
of language courses. Educating aspiring and practicing professionals, managers, and entrepreneurs in the private and public sectors, the School of Business and Economics faculty emphasize the development and continuous improvement of the skills of critical analysis, problem solving, creativity, and effective communication. Funding priorities include reassigned time for faculty, endowed professorships, and endowed chairs.  A professional school dedicated to the education of new and experienced teachers, administrators and other school specialists, the School of Education’s programs prepare students for basic teaching credentials in elementary, middle level/secondary, and special education. The School also offers a M.A. Degree in Education and provides programs for administrators and counselors seeking service credentials. Funding priorities include: Public School Partnerships for the
betterment of student achievement and teacher/administrator preparation,
and an Educator in Residence program for exemplary faculty in area
schools to serve as resident faculty in the School of Education
for one or two years. Making higher education more flexible and accessible for people who face the challenges of time, distance, and family and work responsibilities, the School of Extended Education offers a wide variety of graduate and undergraduate credit courses via the Internet, interactive satellite, independent learning, and live off-campus classroom instruction. Several non-credit training opportunities are also available. Funding priorities include: Minds that Matter Lecture Series to attract world-class authors, thinkers and innovators that inspire dialogue, conversation and debate about issues of social, national and intellectual interest and importance. The School of Science and Technology has developed a curriculum that meets the professional needs of students planning a career in sciences, mathematics, nursing, kinesiology, and computer science. The school also covers the needs of students in the schools of Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Business and Economics, and Education. Many of the general education courses offered in the School are directly beneficial to the students of other schools. Funding priorities include: New equipment and an endowment fund for equipment for the renovated Darwin Hall, a Biology field station and observatory at the Fred B. Galbreath Wildlands Preserve, an endowment for the newly-established department in the Cerent Engineering Science complex, and the development of new undergraduate and graduate degree nursing programs.  The School of Social Sciences contributes to the political, economic, and cultural literacy of its citizens through the expansion and preservation of knowledge. It is a regional center for active social change and human betterment, advocacy, and planning. The school maintains an environment conducive to personal and professional growth attained through equality, shared governance, and open communication. Funding priorities include: Endowed chair, coursework and scholarship
support in the areas of environmental studies, the Holocaust Studies
Program, and Making the Connection — a collaborative partnership
between KRCB Public Television. The Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center is a collaborative, bold vision designed as a regional resource for the entire Sonoma State University community. The Information Center opened August 2000 and houses the University Library, Information Technology and Charlie Brown's Cafe. Funding priorities include: North Bay Ethnic Archive Digital Project to digitize a collection of unique oral histories recorded on cassette tape during the 1970s as part of the SSU American Multicultural Studies Department interviews, an endowment to name The Writing Center, and maintenance of the Library’s Special Collections. The purpose of the Seawolves Athletic Association (SAA) is to support and promote the intercollegiate athletic program at Sonoma State University within the parameters of the institution's athletic and academic philosophies. Donors may support the Seawolves with a direct gift to following programs:
For information about gifts to Athletics, please contact: Patricia McNeill, Vice President for Development
 Sonoma State University’s Annual Fund was created to recognize the loyalty and support of alumni, parents and friends. The Annual Fund Program is comprised of gifts to the Sonoma Fund and the President’s Leadership Council, and are given on an annual basis. Annual Fund gifts are typically unrestricted, but may be designated to the School or program of your choosing. Annual Fund contributions enable the University to provide scholarships, improve academic programs, and enrich campus life for students. Annual Fund gifts comprise 8.1 % of total giving to SSU, and this past year, alumni, parents and friends contributed over $1,3 million in support of the University. To make a contribution to the Annual Fund, please complete the SSU Gift Form page 1 page 2 and return to the development office. A personal letter from the Office of Development will acknowledge your gift. All contributions are tax deductible. To learn more about giving to SSU through the Annual Fund, please contact Endowments
Sonoma State University welcomes and encourages gifts to establish or increase endowments. Endowments are permanent assets that are invested to provide both current and future revenue streams to support the academic mission of the University. Endowments can be established to provide financial support for scholarships, professorships, academic programs, athletic and performing arts programs, and more. To establish an endowment at SSU, the minimum initial contribution level is $25,000. Please contact: Patricia McNeill, Vice President for Development Scholarships
Scholarships serve a major role in providing necessary funding for Sonoma State students who have demonstrated academic excellence. Scholarships range from $250 to $2,850 per year. The Scholarship office currently administers over 200 separate funds that provide approximately 400 distinct scholarship awards. More than 54% of the student body receives financial aid, and 27% receive assistance from scholarships or grants. Without this valuable and vital support, these students would be unable to attend SSU. Scholarships honor and memorialize family members, friends, professors and mentors from all walks of life. Sonoma State is extremely grateful for alumni and friends who choose to assist students in this way. Both endowed and annual scholarships make a significant contribution in providing funds for students. Please contact: Laurie Ogg at 707.664.2036/laurie.ogg@sonoma.edu
to find out how you can establish or fund a student scholarship.
 Many forms of charitable giving are available for donors who wish to consider Sonoma State University in their estate plans. Through a thoughtful planned gift, you can help SSU provide academic opportunities for future generations while receiving tax advantages and possible lifetime income streams for yourself and/or your beneficiaries. All donors who establish a planned gift in support of Sonoma State are recognized with membership in the Ambrose R. Nichols Founders Society. Society members share a strong common bond of generosity that nourishes accomplishments and achievements and ensures the future of Sonoma State University. To receive a Planned Giving Packet or information on specific planned giving programs at SSU, please contact: Patricia McNeill, Vice President for Development Bequests
By leaving Sonoma State University in your Will or estate plans, you will be providing countless opportunities for future generations of students who will benefit from an SSU education. A bequest gift can be included in the body of a Will or as an amendment (codicil) to a pre-existing Will. Gifts can be designated for a specific purpose and typically provide an estate tax deduction. They include the following:
Language you can include in your Will to make a bequest to SSU: "I give, devise, and bequeath to Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, California, ____________ dollars." (Or designate the percentage of the estate or otherwise describe the gift.) To enroll you in the Nichols’ Founders Society, we ask for a copy of the relevant portion(s) of the legal document(s) in which your gift is made, or a letter from your legal or financial advisor that describes the nature of your gift to SSU. Charitable Gift Annuities
 Charitable gift annuities enable you to gift to Sonoma State University while earning guaranteed income and tax benefits. A charitable gift annuity is one of the most popular and easiest forms of planned giving today. Providing a fixed income for life, you will be able to meet your own financial needs and your philanthropic interests. Benefits of a Charitable Gift Annuity:
Types of Gift Annuities:
Who is Qualified to Give an Annuity:
Helpful Information About Annuities:
Estimating Your Annuity Payments: Charitable Remainder Trusts
A charitable remainder trust allows you to transfer assets, such as cash, securities, or other property, into a trust that provides you or another person with a fixed percentage income. The terms of the trust can be tailored to your specific philanthropic and financial objectives. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal reverts to Sonoma State University. Charitable remainder trusts provide the security of a fixed income; if you are interested in growing your income, a charitable remainder unitrust may better a better choice for you. Charitable remainder unitrusts are individually managed and enable you to retain a variable income for your lifetime or a fixed term of years, claim a current income tax deduction, and make a future gift to charity. Typically, donors establish trusts with a value of $100,000 or more. Charitable Lead Trusts
Charitable lead trusts allow you to transfer assets to your
children (or other beneficiaries) while the income from those assets
goes to the University, giving you tax savings. The trusts last
for a chosen period of years, after which the assets become available
to you.
The Green Music Festival at Sonoma State University is well
known for its roster of extraordinary artists. If you would like to join our many program sponsors, or receive more information about the festival, please contact: Robin Draper, Associate Vice President for Development
While other universities have programs that emphasize grape growing and wine making, Sonoma State's Wine Business Program offers a specialized curriculum targeted on the business challenges of the wine industry. Courses are offered in Wine Marketing, Wine Finance and Accounting, Human Resources Management, Wine Business Strategies and Wine Production, Operations & Distribution. The University offers a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Wine Business Strategies, internships with companies in the wine industry, and professional development courses for those already employed within the wine industry. Each spring, the University offers a semester-long course in Wine Entrepreneurship sponsored by the Chalone Foundation. This course is intended to help those who wish to enter the industry and start new businesses. For more information about the Wine Business Program, please contact: Linda Nowak, Interim Director
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1801 E Cotati Avenue, Stevenson Hall Room 1024, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 Phone: 707.664.2712 · Fax: 707.664.2952 email: kate.mcclintock@sonoma.edu · last updated 11-7-05 |
