Young Donors Make a Long-Term Impact

By LISA KNOX

According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, nearly 75 percent of millennial households are philanthropic, giving away an average of $1,616 annually to charity. An impressive 84 percent of Gen-Zers entering the workforce—which began in 2019—also donate to charitable causes. 

Driven by personal values, young professionals in the US are increasingly dedicated to causes they deeply care about. It should be no surprise then that millennials and older Gen-Z alumnae at Saint Mary’s are now carving their own path for charitable gifts which, down the road, will have a big impact.  

Caroline Johnson has been donating to Saint Mary’s since she graduated in 2018 as a member of the Young Madeleva Society, a special donor recognition tier designed for recent graduates known as Belles of the Last Decade (BOLD). A Principal at GCM Grosvenor in Chicago, the business administration graduate is president of the Chicago East Alumnae Club and currently serves on the Madeleva Society Steering Committee. Johnson says it was her own Saint Mary’s experience along with her involvement with the Alumnae Association that motivated her to support students through charitable donations. 

Like Johnson, first-generation college student Julia Wilson ’21 joined the Young Madeleva Society right after graduation, though she made her first donation to the College as a student. Working as a phoneathon caller, she regularly spoke with prospective and current donors, and saw firsthand how alumnae contributions supported the College. A compliance associate at Nemes Rush Family Wealth Management in Novi, Michigan, Wilson credits this experience as a key reason she began donating after graduating.

We recently sat down with Johnson and Wilson to ask them about their commitment to supporting Saint Mary’s, and how they might encourage their peers to join them. 

During your time at Saint Mary’s, what had the greatest impact on you?

CAROLINE: I grew up in Atlanta. My mom, Cathleen Noonan Johnson ’84, and my aunt, Susanne Noonan Taylor ’86, attended Saint Mary's while my dad, siblings, uncles, and cousins all went to Notre Dame. Saint Mary's was one of my top choices and when I toured, I fell in love. I was very involved while I was in school. I played the mellophone in the Notre Dame marching band and was section leader my senior year. I was a tour guide in the Admission office and spoke on panels for senior preview days. 

I was that person who read every email and all the posters around campus. I feel like it’s what led to me finding so many leadership opportunities. I saw a poster to be a  student representative on the Alumnae Association Board of Directors, so I applied. I didn't get it, and I was bummed, but they told me there was a committee of students who helped them and it became an amazing opportunity. It helped me learn how committees and boards work, and led me to the BOLD Committee when I graduated. Through these experiences, I got used to talking in front of people. 

At the end of my junior year, my mom passed away from cancer. It was a hard time, and the way my professors and academic affairs and everyone took care of me was just incredible. It is important to have spaces where you feel recognized and supported. 

JULIA: I come from a long line of Detroit firefighters—at over 100 years, we are the longest-serving family in the nation. I am the youngest of four children, and the only daughter. My parents did not go to college, so my time at Saint Mary’s was important to my whole family. My Uncle Pete encouraged me to apply, he always loved Notre Dame and because of that, knew about Saint Mary’s. When I arrived, I wanted to have every experience I could. So even though I’d never been away from home before coming to Saint Mary’s, I did everything, including studying abroad for a semester. The more I got involved, the more I felt part of the community. 

College was very different from anything I was used to; it was truly a time of discovery for me. My second half of college will always be remembered as COVID time. It is interesting to be at such a pivotal moment in your life when something historic happens. It was a time of opportunities, figuring out who I was as a person. But the biggest impact I took away from Saint Mary's is the sisterhood and that feeling of support. No matter where I go, if I see that ring on someone's hand, I am striking up a conversation.

When I graduated with the departmental award for Economics, it was a proud moment for our whole family. It was a summit we were all trying to reach. We all felt like there's nothing I can't tackle in this world.

How did your experience at Saint Mary’s inspire you to become a donor?

CAROLINE: Getting out into the real world and witnessing how Saint Mary's put me miles ahead of some of my peers has been eye-opening. I want to ensure other young women have the same opportunity. Maybe I can't give millions of dollars, but even a little bit early on makes an impact. 

JULIA: I know firsthand how life-changing financial support is and how much my life changed by coming to Saint Mary's. The scholarships I received from the Saint Mary’s Fund is what made my attendance possible, and I want to give somebody the opportunities that I was given. Donors have the ability to change someone's life, allowing more girls to experience something they never thought they could.

You both choose to give to the Saint Mary’s Fund. Why?

CAROLINE: Through the Young Madeleva Society, I give to the Saint Mary’s Fund so the money will go where it's most needed. Being part of its leadership committee has been so inspiring. I hear why other alumnae choose to give back, and that has helped me create my own goals toward philanthropy. When you're young, you don't always understand the impact donations can have, so I am grateful to stay connected to learn more. 

JULIA: For many students, that little bit extra is the difference between being able to come to Saint Mary’s or not. My family needed it, and together, we all experienced my education because of the support of others. As a student, I applied to study in Ireland for a semester, for which I received a scholarship to help pay for the trip. I didn’t even know I could get a scholarship for this purpose. It was a life-changing moment. I want to pay it forward so more students get to experience everything Saint Mary’s has to offer. 

What would you say to other young alumnae to inspire them to donate?

CAROLINE: I would ask young alumnae to remember how expensive things were when they were in school, knowing how even a small donation can make a dif

ference. The Saint Mary’s Fund is an easy choice. It’s where donations of any size combine to make a big impact.

JULIA: Recurring giving is another suggestion. Auto-withdrawal makes it bite-sized, so you can actually set your donation and forget it. As a younger alumna, I really appreciate this option.

CAROLINE: I agree! The Young Madeleva Society is perfect for this, and builds up over time. It’s so easy to spread out your giving monthly, quarterly, twice a year, whatever is best for you. The first year, you donate $100. The next year, your donation is $200; the third year it’s $300, until the 10th year, which is $1,000, when you become a member of The Madeleva Society. It’s not as impossible as you might think. Spreading out your philanthropy in this way is really doable. 

JULIA: Plus, you also get all the fun little perks—you get the card, you get to go to the tailgates. Being part of the Young Madeleva Society allows you to stay part of the school. 

What motivates you to continue your annual loyal support?

CAROLINE: My earlier work with the Alumnae Relations Committee helped me transition from student to young professional to donor. I attended the Alumnae Association Board of Directors meetings, which as a 22-year-old was intimidating. But it was also exciting. It was nice to go back to campus with the BOLD Committee and brainstorm ideas and hear about the amazing things the College is doing. It keeps me connected and eager to continue. 

JULIA: Knowing that I am giving somebody the opportunities that I was given is a big motivation for me. I want to help other young women have the ability to pursue their education and discover their own potential in the way that I was able to. 

Both of you studied business. Did you have a career path in mind when you came to Saint Mary’s?

CAROLINE: My mom was an accountant, earning her MBA at Notre Dame. My dad was in investment consulting, so business administration was something I was familiar with. Though I liked accounting, I didn’t think I wanted to do that every day, so I focused on finance and marketing. I met the company I work for today at a career fair my senior year, whose HR rep was a Saint Mary’s grad. They stayed in touch, and four years later they reached out and here I am at a job I love that I didn't even know existed! 

JULIA: My two economics professors, Professor Ari Farshbaf and Professor Sianne Vijay, were like my parents away from home. They helped me see economics as a path that could amplify anything I might want to do later. I spent so much time talking to them about school, about life. I ended up actually graduating with the departmental award in economics and was one of the co-founders of the Economics Club at Saint Mary's. They were such huge influences on my life; they are the reason I do what I do now. Only 30 percent of those working in economics are women. Going to an all women's college, being in this environment, was powerful.

What would you say to future students?

JULIA: During your pivotal ages between 18 and 21, you will be surrounded by supportive women at Saint Mary’s. You will never lose a club leadership position to a man or not be named valedictorian because a man was. When you remove the competition with men from the equation, women come out empowered, confident. They're ready to advocate for themselves, ask the questions they need to ask. In my industry, where there are so few women, this set me apart. It’s what equipped me with what I needed to interview for my job and also to get promoted. The social skills I learned as a student have translated to so many different areas of my life that I am only now beginning to recognize.

September 21, 2026