Donor Recognition
Recognising your Support
To recognise our most loyal donors, all those who make a regular gift to the Aularian Fund or support the Hall over a number of years will be invited to join our Regular Giving Societies.
Our Regular Giving Societies are named after past Principals whose contributions established St Edmund Hall as we know it today. Throughout the Hall’s history, Aularian generosity has been the cornerstone of its development, and we can trace a culture of philanthropy back to the 17th century with Principal Tullie (1658–76) who invited all graduating students to make a gift of £5 towards the Hall (the equivalent of £570 today). Since then, there have been many generous gifts making the Hall the large and vibrant college that it is today.
Members of all Regular Giving Societies shall have their names published in the annual St Edmund Hall Magazine (unless wishing to remain anonymous), receive email updates on the College and invitations to Hall events, as well as the below additional benefits, by way of our thanks.
Regular Giving Societies
The Aularian Society
Recognising regular giving of up to £239 per year/£19.99 per month (up to USD 307.24 per year/USD 25.59 per month)
- An exclusive Aularian Society pin badge
The Tullie Society
Regular giving of at least £240 per year/£20 per month (USD 307.25 per year/USD 25.60 per month)
- An exclusive Tullie Society pin badge and historic Teddy Hall artwork print
The Penton Society
Regular giving of at least £1,000 a year/£83.33 a month (USD 1,280.22 per year/USD 106.68 per month)
- An exclusive Penton Society pin badge and access to join the Fellowship for a lunch in the Senior Common Room (contact the Development Office for more information)
The Moore Society
Regular giving of at least £5,000 per year/£416.67 per month (USD 6,401.10 per year/USD 533.43 per month)
- An exclusive Moore Society pin badge and invitations from the Principal to sit at High Table at exclusive events
Thomas Tullie (1658–76): The Principalship of Thomas Tullie was seen as somewhat of a golden age for the Hall, with it expanding both in terms of students and buildings after the hardships and repercussions of Oxford’s support for King Charles I during the Civil War.
Tullie began construction of the Old Dining Hall, contributing £200 of his own money. It is possible to consider Tullie as the first fundraiser for the Hall, as he initiated a programme whereby graduating students left £5 to the Hall, funding the expansion of the library. In today’s money this would equate to a gift of £320 from each Aularian. It seems fitting, therefore, that our regular giving society bears his name.
Stephen Penton (1676–84): Penton followed Tullie and was a similarly enterprising, if overly experimental, Principal. Under his leadership the Hall continued its fundraising activities, constructing the Chapel and what is now the Old Library. Donations amounted to £366 5s, with individual donations ranging from £1 to £40.
Edward Moore (1864–1913): Moore enjoyed a long and successful Principalship at the Hall, and was fundamental in ensuring its survival to this day. Under Moore, the reputation of the Hall as a home of “true religion and sound learning” was greatly increased, Hall numbers more than doubled, and it was represented in almost every honours list.
The University Commission of 1877 prepared a new scheme for St Edmund Hall, which would have brought it under the control of Queen’s College and ended its separate existence, to take effect on the retirement or death of the existing head. Moore made it his object to defeat this scheme. In 1903, on Moore being nominated to a canonry at Canterbury, J. R. Magrath, the provost of Queen’s, carried through the University’s hebdomadal council a statute which would have resulted in the planned absorption of the Hall. Moore successfully opposed the statute in Congregation, and, retaining the headship with the sanction of Prime Minister A. J. Balfour, set himself to preserve the independence of the Hall. After a prolonged struggle, a statute was passed in 1913 preserving St Edmund Hall as an independent institution – at last Moore felt able to resign, having secured the future of the Hall.
Major Giving Societies
The Hall also wishes to recognise our significant benefactors who have given generous one-off or cumulative donations over the years by inviting them to join our Major Giving Societies. Members of the below societies shall receive exclusive event invitations from the Principal and have their names written on the boards in Benefactors’ Square at the College site on Queen’s Lane (unless wishing to remain anonymous).
- Hallmarks Benefactor: Recognising major donors giving a cumulative total of £25,000 or more
- Principal’s Circle: Recognising major donors giving a cumulative total of £100,000 or more
- St Edmund Guild: Recognising major donors giving a cumulative total of £250,000 or more
Floreat Aula Legacy Society
The Floreat Aula Legacy Society recognises and thanks those who have made a provision to the Hall in their will. You can find more information on the Floreat Aula Legacy Society webpage.
Making your gift
Make your regular gift to the Aularian Fund today
Gifts can be made on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis and can be amended by you at any time.
Aularians in the USA can make a tax efficient regular gift via Americans for Oxford.