Donor Recognition

The Lifetime Giving Societies
The Lifetime Giving Societies is NC State University's most prestigious donor recognition organization. Through the Societies, the university honors the leadership and extraordinary support of alumni, friends, faculty and staff. Private donors have a vital role in shaping the university's future, and the Societies provide the means to recognize its most generous supporters.

Individuals are inducted into one of six societies named in honor of provident benefactors who shaped the history of NC State University. Like these forward-thinking benefactors, Societies members have made a special commitment of leadership, involvement and personal resources to ensure NC State's strength as a leading research-extensive land-grant university.

Become a Member
Individuals can become members based on their outright, cumulative giving over time to any college, program or university-related foundation. Cumulative giving is calculated based on gifts received through the fiscal year ending June 30, and totals include employer matching gifts. Qualifying gifts include:

cash, securities, real estate or gifts-in-kind
irrevocable deferred gifts of $75,000 or more (trust, gift annuity, life-insurance policy or retained life estate)

Ways to Give to NC State

Levels of Membership

The Alexander Quarles Holladay Society
The Holladay Society, established in 2002, recognizes lifetime gift support of $5,000,000 or more in outright or irrevocable planned gifts. Alexander Quarles Holladay (1839-1909), was an educator, lawyer and legislator who served as the first president of NC State University, then known as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, from 1889-1899. Holladay was instrumental in transforming the land-grant into an esteemed institution of higher education.

The William Joseph Peele Society
The Peele Society, created in 1994, honors lifetime gift support of $1,000,000 or
more in outright gifts or irrevocable planned gifts. William Joseph Peele
(1855-1919), founded the Watauga Club in 1884 and organized its members in
their effort to provide better educational opportunities and to promote the
agricultural and industrial development of North Carolina.

The Walter Hines Page Society
The Page Society, established in 1994, recognizes lifetime gift support of
$500,000 or more in outright gifts or irrevocable planned gifts of $750,000 or
more. Walter Hines Page (1855-1918), an influential Raleigh journalist, was a
founding member of the Watauga Club in 1884. This progressive group of North
Carolinians co-sponsored legislation in the North Carolina General Assembly to
establish what is now NC State University.

The Charles William Dabney Society
The Dabney Society, established in 2001, honors lifetime gift support of
$250,000 or more in outright gifts or irrevocable planned gifts of $375,000 or
more. Charles William Dabney (1855-1945), an educator, administrator, and
scientist, was an enthusiastic member of the Watauga Club and director of the
state's Agricultural Experiment Station. Dabney drafted the legislation in 1887
that authorized the establishment of the new college, now known as NC State
University.

The Wallace Carl Riddick Society
The Riddick Society, created in 1994, honors lifetime gift support of $100,000 or more in outright gifts or irrevocable planned gifts of $150,000 or more. Wallace Carl Riddick (1864-1942) served NC State University for 50 years from 1892 until 1942 in the roles of Professor of Civil Engineering and Hydraulics, Head Football Coach, Dean of Engineering, President and Dean Emeritus. Riddick played a vital role in upgrading NC State's intercollegiate athletics program and enhancing the engineering program.

The Leonidas Lafayette Polk Society
The Polk Society, established in 1994, recognizes lifetime gift support of
$50,000 or more in outright gifts or irrevocable planned gifts of $75,000 or more. Leonidas Layfayette Polk (1837-1892) was North Carolina's first Commissioner of Agriculture and founder and first editor of The Progressive Farmer. Polk organized the state's farmers who co-sponsored legislation in 1887 that established what is now NC State University.

The R. Stanhope Pullen Society
Created Established in 1993, the R. Stanhope Pullen Society recognizes alumni and friends who support NC State with deferred gifts. Through their generosity and foresight, Pullen members play a vital role in securing the future of NC State. R. Stanhope Pullen was a leading Raleigh citizen and philanthropist who donated the sixty-two acres of land that serves as the site of the land-grant college now known as NC State University. According to legend, Mr. Pullen laid out the original boundaries of the campus with his plow and mule.

How Can You Become a Member?
Membership in the Pullen Society is open to individuals who would like to assure that NC State continues to thrive for generations to come through a variety of estate planning tools such as charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, life insurance, and will bequests. Membership offers opportunities to be more fully engaged with the university and fellow Pullen Society members.

For more information on The Lifetime Giving Societies or The R. Stanhope Pullen Society – email donor_relations@ncsu.edu or call the Office of Donor Relations at (919) 515-1678 or (919) 515-9091.

The Chancellor's Circle
The Chancellor's Circle is the highest level of recognition for individuals who
make outright annual gifts to NC State University. All gifts and qualifying
matching gifts made during the university's fiscal year (July 1-June 30) count
towards Chancellor's Circle recognition in one of six levels. Join the growing number of alumni, friends, faculty/staff, parents, and students who demonstrate their loyalty and commitment with annual support!