Enrique Gonzalez-Salgado, Scripps’ new associate vice president for philanthropy, reflects on his first visit to campus: “I remember walking by Honnold Gate and reading the inscription that students and alumnae know so well: ‘The paramount obligation of a college is to develop in its students the ability to think clearly and independently, and the ability to live confidently, courageously, and hopefully.’ This commitment to students fortified my interest in working at Scripps.”
As associate vice president for philanthropy, Gonzalez-Salgado aims to advance our founder’s vision for Scripps and ensure its viability for years to come. Gonzalez-Salgado primarily supports Vice President for External Relations and Institutional Advancement Binti Harvey in the management and execution of the advancement program. More specifically, he oversees planned giving, principal gifts, major gifts, annual giving, foundations, corporate and government relations. He is also a proud father of two sons and five daughters and is intrinsically motivated to support one of the few women’s colleges in the country. “It is personally rewarding to be able to advance the mission of an institution that will make the world a better place,” he says.
Gonzalez-Salgado is passionate about access to higher education due to opportunities made available to himself and his family. He began his career in philanthropy in 2003, serving as the director of a state-funded, pre-college academic preparation program that encouraged students to seek careers in math, science, and engineering. Early in his tenure, the program suffered tremendously from state budget cuts. Unwilling to let the program fail, Gonzalez-Salgado trained students, recruited volunteers, and sought out interested investors. “It was there that I first experienced the transformative power of philanthropy,” he says. “I decided then that working in philanthropy was a calling for me.”
Gonzalez-Salgado went on to serve as director of development at several higher education institutions, including California State University, Fullerton, and Harvey Mudd College.
“What is exciting about this role is that every day is a little different,” he says. “Some days I am in the office working on administrative procedures, and other days I am out visiting with alumnae and families, learning about the amazing ways they are impacting the world.”
Gonzalez-Salgado believes that investing in education is the ultimate investment in society. “Colleges are in the business of changing and saving lives through higher education, and this is especially apparent at Scripps, where the College is transforming the lives of students, faculty, alumnae, and the surrounding communities,” he says. Donor gifts fill the funding gap between what the College receives in tuition and the actual cost of educating a student at Scripps, ensuring that the College can continue providing students with the same Scripps experience.
It’s important to Gonzalez-Salgado that donors have the opportunity to designate their contributions to areas within the College that they find most meaningful. “I think it’s best when donors can see and most importantly feel the impact that their gift is making in the lives of our students,” he says. “For example, when a donor gives to scholarships to support Scripps students, they make an investment,” he says. “Those students then go out into the world and make a positive impact for a lifetime. I think this is a great return on investment.”
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