A Shared Vision

Head of School Jim Hamilton reflects on the importance of consistently strong philanthropy and engagement, what generosity in action looks like and how everyone has a role in the success of our community.

How do The Peddie Fund and the endowment work together to sustain and strengthen our community?

The Peddie Fund gives the school momentum today. It allows leadership to say “yes” to opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach — opportunities that directly shape the student experience, including classroom innovations, professional development, diversity and inclusion initiatives and campus improvements. This Fund impacts every part of life at Peddie, every day.

The endowment serves as the school’s long-term promise. Ultimately, having a strong endowment allows the school to think boldly and act strategically. Together, these two streams of support give us the flexibility to both respond quickly and plan wisely in a changing landscape. They both help us advance our mission in a competitive market.

How do gifts to The Peddie Fund impact daily life?

The Peddie Fund brings our mission to life daily. It keeps our vision rooted in lived experience.

It’s everywhere you look: the classrooms, the dorms, the athletic fields and the dining hall. It enables us to make immediate investments in financial aid, faculty support, technology and the signature programs that define our experience.

The Peddie Fund is constantly at work, and as it grows, it will increasingly allow us to be nimble and responsive to both opportunities and challenges as they arrive.

How would you explain the power of broad participation in giving?

The foundation of any strong philanthropic community is broad participation. Everyone has a role in our community’s success. And every gift, no matter the size, is a meaningful part of that.

There is great unity in broad participation. It shows that we believe in what we’re doing and inspires others to follow. There’s real power in any gift if it’s repeated, shared and made with intention. I think if more people do that, the inertia will be palpable.

Participation also strengthens our reputation. Strong engagement metrics inspire major donors who ask about the current student experience. When our faculty, our staff, our parents and alumni are all participating, it speaks volumes.

But participation is not just about financial support.

It’s a mindset. When students know that their experience has often happened because of the generosity of others, we hope it instills in them a desire to pay it forward.

It’s also personal. I believe in the idea of collective impact — that everyone contributes, everyone counts and everyone belongs. One Peddie.

How do you see the role of the Head of School in fostering a culture of philanthropy and gratitude across students, alumni, families, faculty and staff?

The Head of School must serve as both the chief storyteller and chief steward. My role is to help people in the community see not just what they’re giving to, but who their beneficiaries are becoming through their engagement and generosity.

It is critical that I model a culture of gratitude in everything we do, from thank-you notes to public recognition to how we talk about philanthropy at events.

It’s important to me to connect people to purpose. That to me is the foundation of philanthropy. Whether I’m speaking to a new family, a long-time donor or a group of students, it’s important that they feel valued and invited to participate in our shared vision.

As we look to the future, how do we inspire the next generation of donors to see themselves as stewards of Peddie’s mission?

We need to connect people’s giving to meaning — especially our students and young alumni. They need to see that their experience was often shaped by people who supported the school and feel inspired to carry that forward.

I think it starts with culture. Being a steward of the school means being a leader in building character, community and the highest level of citizenship.

We also need to tell stories that bridge the past and the future. Stories that show how yesterday’s gifts are making today’s experience possible, and how today’s giving lays the foundation for a better tomorrow.

Ultimately, we need to make it clear that The Peddie Fund is the engine of our fundraising. I have been so moved by how strongly people feel about Peddie, and so it’s just a matter of helping them ensure the success of the school they love.