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 university.

Become a Member

Individuals 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, certain real estate and gifts-in-kind, as well as irrevocable deferred gifts of $75,000 or more.

Levels of Membership

The Alexander Quarles Holladay Society – $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 – $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 – $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 – $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 – $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 – $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. New membership to the Polk Society will close July 1, 2013.

The R. Stanhope Pullen Society

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. Just as R. Stanhope Pullen, a leading Raleigh citizen and philanthropist, donated the sixty-two acres of land that serves as the site of the land-grant college now known as NC State University, Society members are laying the ground work for the future of our great institution.

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.

Review Planned Gift Options

For more information on The Lifetime Giving Societies or The R. Stanhope Pullen Society – email donor_relations@ncsu.edu or call the Office of Development Communications and Donor Relations at (919) 513-8192.

The Chancellor’s Circle

NC State University is proud and honored to annually recognize our alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends who, through their leadership gifts of $1,000 or more annually, provide tremendous impact. Through the Chancellor’s Circle, we celebrate your generosity.