Gaudiani receives fundraising achievement award

Claire Gaudiani ’66

Former Connecticut College President Claire L. Gaudiani ’66 was recognized for her lifelong dedication to philanthropic service by Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy on Aug. 25 .

Gaudiani was one of two recipients of the Henry A. Rosso Medal for lifetime achievement in ethical fundraising. The award was created in 1990 to honor Rosso, a founder of the university’s center on philanthropy. It is the center’s most prestigious award.

Gaudiani served as President of the College from 1988 to 2001. A former Indianapolis resident, she currently is a professor at the George H. Heyman Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising at New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

She has served on the boards of many for-profit and nonprofit organizations, including the the Henry Luce Foundation, MBIA Inc., the Shubert Theatre, Public Radio International and Citizens Bank. She is also a trustee of Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Gaudiani’s recent book, “The Greater Good: How Philanthropy Drives the American Economy and Can Save Capitalism,” combines stories from American history and survey results to illustrate that Americans are not generous because they are rich, but rich because they are generous. Since its publication in September 2003, she has spoken in 92 cities to groups ranging in size from 50 to 1,000.