Development Report

Strategic vision

 Throughout the 2022–23 academic year, the work of developing a refreshed strategic vision for the College’s eighth century has proceeded apace, overseen by a working group established by the Governing Body. Between November 2022 and the end of January 2023, all members of the College community – alumni, students, staff and Fellows – were encouraged to submit their thoughts on some of the key strategic challenges, risks and opportunities facing the College. The response was overwhelming and surpassed all expectations: over 2400 alumni, more than 300 students, and most of the staff and Fellows complete the online survey. Renewed thanks to everyone who took the time and trouble to answer the questionnaire. The feedback has provided a wealth of data to help guide the College’s future direction.

In the Lent Term 2023, focus groups of Fellows and students were convened to engage in detail with the broad themes emerging from the online consultation, while the Master and I workshopped further themes with alumni at the 2023 Gala Day and at the annual Alumni Council. The purpose of these focus groups has been to capture a diverse range of views, ensure participation of all sections of the College community, and build engagement around a shared vision.

Concurrently with the focus groups, external experts were invited, from outside the higher education sector, to bring a degree of challenge. The College is hugely grateful to all those who gave so generously of their time and expertise. Inputs covered a range of contexts and potential disruptors, including the wider educational ecosystem (UK and international), technology and employment, environmental challenges, global relations, socio-economic changes, and demographic trends.

Bringing all this feedback and insight together, a draft vision for Clare’s future will be discussed in detail by the College community during the first half of the 2023–24 academic year. It is anticipated that a final draft will be presented to Governing Body for approval in the spring of 2024, and disseminated to the whole Clare community thereafter.

 Communications

 One of the clearest messages from the strategic questionnaire was the need to enhance the College’s communications, both internal and external. To this end, Clare appointed its first College-wide Communications Manager in January 2023. Sally Hodges is responsible for assisting all departments with their communications needs. Early improvements have included a new alumni website (www.clare.cam.ac.uk/alumni), a monthly newsletter for staff and Fellows, and major improvements to internal communications. From the start of the 2023–24 academic year, implementation of a strategic and systematic approach should enable Clare to communicate more effectively with its different audiences (prospective and current students and their families, alumni, staff and Fellows, the wider collegiate University, and the local community) in a more coordinated and professional manner.

 In the Strategic Vision Questionnaire, alumni indicated that they would like to read more about Fellows’ research. We have reflected your feedback in this issue of the Review.

 Alumni relations and fundraising

 As detailed elsewhere in this Review, the 50^th anniversary of co-education was marked by a full programme of events, including the unveiling of a new sculpture, ‘HOMMAGE’, in Ashby Court; an exhibition of photographic portraits of female Fellows in the Forbes Mellon Library Octagon; three 50^th Anniversary Lectures; and a 50^th Anniversary Concert in West Road Concert Hall on Sunday 7 May featuring Clare alumni and students, and the premiere of a new commission by John Rutter. The anniversary events culminated on 1 July 2023 with a themed Gala Day, the unveiling of the Lady Clare seal sculpture, and the 50^th Anniversary Reunion Dinner for alumni who matriculated in 1972.

It has been heartening to see the return of a full programme of alumni events after the disruption of the pandemic years. During 2022–23 the College hosted five reunion events, a Parents’ Dinner, the annual meeting of the Alumni Council and a range of events for our benefactors and legators. We also welcomed the return, after an absence of several years, of the annual Clare Distinguished Lecture in Economics and Public Policy, given by Dame Colette Bowe with Dame Frances Cairncross as discussant. Another significant event for the wider Clare community was the Memorial Service for Anne Brewin, long-serving Vice-President of Clare Boat Club and a generous host to generations of Clare rowers. With the re-opening of Hall after an extensive programme of refurbishment, we look forward to hosting major events in Old Court once again.

Outside Cambridge, we have been pleased to welcome alumni to events in London and Edinburgh, and, further afield, in Boston, New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia and San Francisco. During the 2023–24 academic year, the Master and I look forward to making return visits to the USA and to meeting Clare alumni in Singapore and Hong Kong.

As noted elsewhere in this Review, the financial support provided by alumni and well-wishers is essential in enabling Clare to maintain its academic excellence, its inclusive and friendly community, its historic buildings and grounds, and its worldwide reputation in music. Whether in sports, the arts or education, excellence does not come cheap: we are therefore enormously grateful for the support we receive from so many members of the College community, without which we would not be able to sustain Lady Clare’s vision into our eighth century.

In the financial year ending 30 June 2023, the College received some £4.8 million in donations, and raised over £5.7 million in new gifts and pledges. Much of this philanthropy was earmarked for the Old Court project, which has now raised nearly £22 million towards its £25 million target. Particular thanks are due to the Old Court Campaign Board and other volunteers for their leadership.

Transforming Old Court, providing student bursaries, funding teaching fellowships, and supporting Clare music: all depend on the contributions of many hundreds of donors, large and small. A recent alumna donating £10 per month in response to the telephone campaign is every bit as important as a retired alumnus making a larger lifetime gift or remembering Clare in their will. Philanthropy has built and sustained the College for the past 700 years, starting with Lady Clare herself and continuing with the alumni who funded the building of Old Court in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. Those who follow in their footsteps play a vital role in enabling the College to flourish in the 21^st century.