Join the Parents Fund Committee:

The Bates Parents Fund consists of contributions by parents of current students and alumni to the college’s annual fundraising campaign to help meet immediate expenses in such areas as academic excellence, residential life, and library resources. Members of the Parents Fund Committee connect fellow families with the college and encourage them to make Bates a philanthropic priority at whatever level is right for them.

We ask all committee members to:

• Lead by example: Make your Parents Fund pledge or gift before asking other families to join you in supporting Bates.
• Ask: Reach out to current Bates families for new or increased support of the Parents Fund. Staff will support you with tools to do this in the ways most comfortable to you.
• Participate: Attend regional and on-campus events when possible, share Bates social media posts, and help keep families connected with the college. We also ask committee members to actively participate in Great Day to be a Bobcat, the college’s annual giving day.
• Be an ambassador for Bates: Thank you for being an informed and enthusiastic advocate for the college.

Join the Senior Parent Gift Committee:

The Senior Parent Gift program began in the fall of 2022, and since then, over 500 families have raised well over a million dollars for the Bates Parents Fund in their student’s senior year. This marks the fourth year of the Senior Parent Gift program at Bates, and we’re thrilled to continue this remarkable tradition of support.

Through email outreach, our volunteers connect with fellow senior families to encourage them to join in making a capstone gift to the Bates Parents Fund. And outreach is flexible – whether you can spend just five minutes a month, or an hour every week, we’re happy to work with you to find the level of engagement that fits your schedule. Sign up!

Become a Parent Ambassador:

Your knowledge and experience as a Bates parent are valuable resources for our incoming families as they prepare to send their students off to college. Parent Ambassadors provide insight and guidance, easing the transition to college life and enriching the Bates community as a whole. 

As a Parent Ambassador, you will help incoming families navigate:

• Campus life and resources: Sharing your personal experiences in encouraging your student to access the numerous resources and opportunities available at Bates.
• The social and emotional transition: Offering your support and advice on how to navigate the emotions of sending a child to college, as well as fostering independence for both the parent and student while maintaining healthy family connections.
• Logistics and practical matters: Providing tips on everything from move-in day and family weekend, to local transportation, dining options, and where to find necessities near campus.
• Building community: Connecting new families with each other and helping them find their place within the larger Bates community.
• Campus life and resources: Sharing your personal experiences in encouraging your student to access the numerous resources and opportunities available at Bates. Sign up!

Hold a Summer Welcome Reception for incoming students and their families:

Each year, Bates families across the country open their homes and communities to welcome incoming students and their families. Hosting a Summer Welcome Reception is a meaningful way to share your Bates experience, build connections, and connect with new and returning families before the start of the academic year.

These casual gatherings offer an opportunity for incoming families to ask questions, receive helpful tips, and start forming lasting bonds that often extend well beyond the summer before their Bobcat’s first year. As a host, you play a crucial role in easing the transition to college life, while also showcasing the warmth and generosity that define our Bates community.

Our team will be with you every step of the way, supporting logistics, sending invitations, and providing Bates-branded materials, so that you can focus on creating a welcoming and memorable experience. Sign up!

Connect with the Bates Center for Purposeful Work:

In partnership with the Center for Purposeful Work, we connect current Bates students with alumni and parents for career exploration.

We seek volunteers who: 

• Find their current work enjoyable and meaningful.
• Can share helpful advice with students who are interested in their field.
• Can demonstrate connections between their career and a liberal arts education.
• Can dedicate a day for students to visit (or a few hours for a zoom meeting) and plan an agenda that will introduce students to their industry, function, and organization.
• Work for an organization that welcomes students for shadowing. Check with Human Resources before registering if you’re not sure! 

By hosting a job shadow, you can provide a flexible and accessible opportunity to students who are interested in learning about your work. Please consider other ways to get involved, such as hosting an internship through the Purposeful Work Internship Program or recruiting Bates students by posting your organization’s jobs and internships with the Bates Center for Purposeful Work. Your involvement with our program is an invaluable resource during their career exploration. Sign up!