College of Music

Employer gift matching multiplies donor impact

Anna Tolette — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 20:51:21 +0000

Employer gift matching multiplies donor impact Anna Tolette Thu, 07/31/2025 - 14:51

Employer gift matching offers ̽��Ƶ donors a way to enhance their investment in the causes they care about. Through these often-underused programs, companies match charitable contributions made by their employees.

For two donors, tapping into their companies’ gift-matching programs offered a meaningful way to support student scholarships and expand on their desire to give back.

A family tradition of giving

Kevin Ruffcorn with his son, Nick Ruffcorn (Fin'21)

The Ruffcorn family, whose youngest child graduated from ̽��Ƶ, has made employer gift matching a cornerstone of their family’s giving. Kevin Ruffcorn works for a Fortune 50 company with a generous matching limit. While he didn’t take full advantage of the matching opportunities early in his career, he’s intentionally maxed out the annual limit in recent years.

“It took me a few years to appreciate the impact of gift-matching, but once I learned of its multiplier effect, I leveraged it to the greatest extent possible,” said Ruffcorn.

Each year during the holidays, his family discusses their giving priorities for the coming year. Scholarships are always at the top of the list. Ruffcorn was a first-generation college student, which inspired his support for scholarships. Employer gift matching enabled his family to fully fund a scholarship endowment two to three years earlier than possible without the additional support.

“I received a scholarship that enabled me to attend the university of my choice,” he said. “So, I am well aware that scholarships can be life-changing for their recipients, as my scholarship was for me.”

Their family has fully funded an endowed scholarship at their oldest son’s university and recently started one at ̽��Ƶ, named in honor of Ruffcorn’s in-laws.

“My wife and I have been extraordinarily fortunate, and we credit education for our good fortune,” he shared. “Gift matching enables donors, like us, to have a greater impact, and I encourage all donors to use these programs.”

Giving with gratitude and pride

Alyssa Louise Moody’s (Film’08) time in the Golden Buffalo Marching Band inspired her to give back to ̽��Ƶ. After graduating, she followed her parents’ example by supporting scholarships for marching band students.

“As a student at ̽��Ƶ, I was lucky enough to receive a few scholarships from the Golden Buffalo Marching Band, and it made me appreciate that someone was willing to contribute to my education,” said Moody. “It also gave me a sense of pride knowing I was successful enough in school and band to be eligible for a scholarship.”

Now working for the Walt Disney Company, Moody uses the company’s generous gift-matching program to advance her family’s legacy of support.

“Walt Disney Company encourages every cast member, the name for Disney employees, to participate in their community,” said Moody. “I appreciate their willingness to provide these gifts and make them readily available for donors passionate about a particular cause. Sometimes I even donate a larger amount because I know they will match it.”

She wants to ensure future generations of marching band students feel as appreciated as she did. Students from all majors can find a sense of belonging and purpose in the Golden Buffalo Marching Band as they create music and represent ̽��Ƶ pride.

“Being in the marching band is like a part-time job with little recognition, but it’s rewarding,” she said. “I want future members to feel that their hard work is valued and that someone out there is cheering for them.”

A simple way to make a big difference

Gift matching is one of the easiest ways for ̽��Ƶ donors to maximize the impact of their gifts. Whether it’s a scholarship for a first-generation student or support for a hardworking band member, every matched dollar helps unlock more opportunities for Buffs.

Find out if your employer offers gift matching

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Thompson Endowment Swings Jazz Forward at ̽��Ƶ

Anna Tolette — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:04:41 +0000

Thompson Endowment Swings Jazz Forward at ̽��Ƶ Anna Tolette Thu, 03/20/2025 - 12:04

April Driver

Last fall, ̽��Ƶ’s College of Music added a vocal jazz degree option to the Thompson Jazz Studies Program. Alumni and longtime donors Jack (Hist’64; MA’70) and Jeannie Thompson (Zool’64) expanded their endowment to further enhance their impact and legacy with the jazz studies program.

In 2013, the Thompson Jazz Studies Endowment transformed the future of ̽��Ƶ’s jazz program. A little over a decade later, the program has gained national recognition, drawing world-renowned artists for workshops, enabling students to collaborate with musicians worldwide and enriching the community with outstanding performances year-round.

“Seeing student and programmatic growth through our giving has been a delight,” said Jack and Jeannie Thompson. “An example is the students and faculty who have traveled to Costa Rica and Cuba, experiencing jazz and learning new forms of international jazz.

“We recently added funds to support vocal jazz — it will be fun to see that much-needed area in the program expand. The inspiration to support has given us pleasure, and it’s great to see the jazz program develop within the college.”

Vocal jazz enriches jazz studies

According to Jocelyn Medina, instructor for vocal jazz at ̽��Ƶ, integrating vocal jazz enriches the entire jazz studies program.

Instrumentalists benefit from learning to play with singers, reinforcing their listening and accompaniment skills. They also learn to play songs in different keys and with greater dynamic range, developing a deeper understanding of the repertoire related to the lyrics and storytelling of the melodies and harmonies.

Many instrumentalists may also want to be vocalists. With the new program, jazz students can do both.

“Instrumentalists who sing can hone their skills by adding vocal jazz courses,” Medina added.

Jazz opens doors to the world

The Thompson Jazz Endowment has created incredible experiences for ̽��Ƶ’s jazz students and faculty — from traveling to the Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, California, to hosting world-renowned artists on campus.

Musicians inspire and learn from each other. These experiences go beyond the classroom to connect students with the global jazz community.

John Gunther, director of the Thompson Jazz Studies Program, explained the significance of these experiences: “We took 23 students and faculty to Cuba for an intensive week of study with master musicians. These trips help elevate the College of Music’s profile nationally and internationally,” he said.

The endowment helps offset student travel costs, making these international experiences more accessible. Students with financial needs can receive additional support, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate.

Expanding professional networks

The program fosters professional connections for students and faculty. Thompson Jazz Studies has grown as a respected hub for jazz education and innovation, attracting guest clinicians and artists to campus.

Faculty integrate the guest artists, who often work with big bands and jazz combos, into the student experience. They share insights on performance, musicianship and career development, offering students a deeper perspective of their craft. Students often perform alongside these seasoned professionals, helping expand their resumes and performance education aligned with the college’s universal musician approach to achieving its mission.

Endowments 101

At ̽��Ƶ, endowments provide crucial support for students, faculty, research and programs.

What is an endowment?

An endowment is a type of donation that offers ̽��Ƶ long-term support by investing the principal amount of the endowment and using a portion of the returns annually to fund specific programs, like scholarships, faculty positions or research.

What are the benefits?

Program support: Endowments provide permanent funding for specific programs, scholarships and positions, enhancing ̽��Ƶ’s ability to fulfill its mission and attract top talent.

Funding stability: They provide predictable and stable funding to sustain programs over the long term.

Donor legacy: Endowments allow donors to establish a lasting tribute and extend the value of their gift to support future generations.

Learn more about endowments

̽��Ƶ’s jazz program also provides students with hands-on experience in professional recording. Each year, students record in a professional studio in Denver. The Thompson Jazz Records label, supported by the endowment, allows students to navigate the entire production process — creation, copyright, publishing and contracts — helping them prepare for careers in the music industry.

̽��Ƶ’s jazz program now boasts one of the most robust infrastructures for engaging with external experts. This ongoing exchange of knowledge and talent elevates the program and expands professional networks, providing career opportunities and connections to the jazz world.

Hosting world-renowned artists

The Thompson Jazz Endowment has also provided ̽��Ƶ’s jazz students and faculty opportunities to work with acclaimed artists.

Maria Schneider, a multi-Grammy-winning composer and bandleader, will conduct workshops on her creative process and the music industry in April. She will also direct CU’s jazz ensembles in a performance of her music.

Last year, legendary bassist Dave Holland held a weeklong residency, offering masterclasses and collaborating with students. These opportunities are open to all students in the College of Music, expanding the jazz program’s reach.

“To regularly have artists of this stature visit not only jazz studies but the College of Music is hugely impactful,” Gunther said.

These residencies provide students with direct access to the most respected names in jazz. They foster mentorship, collaboration and hands-on learning — central to ̽��Ƶ’s jazz program.

Giving back to the campus and community

̽��Ƶ’s jazz program also prioritizes community engagement. Each December, the jazz ensembles participate in an annual performance of Duke Ellington’s jazz arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. On campus, students host pop-up concerts and an end-of-year outdoor performance that brings music to the broader university community.

Additionally, the jazz program is open to non-music majors. ̽��Ƶ has a non-major jazz ensemble where students from other majors can play jazz. The program also offers vocal jazz lessons to students from other disciplines, such as musical theater and classical voice, expanding access to jazz education.

Preserving the future of jazz studies at ̽��Ƶ

The Thompsons have made a lasting impact at ̽��Ƶ. They demonstrated their love of jazz and ̽��Ƶ through their generosity. By establishing an endowment, the Thompsons have given the College of Music the tools and confidence to grow the Thompson Jazz Studies Program, knowing that the resources are there to support initiatives in future years.

With the continued support of the Thompson endowment, ̽��Ƶ’s jazz studies program is becoming one of the leading jazz education institutions in the country, offering unparalleled opportunities for students to learn, perform and connect with the jazz community — locally and globally.

“The Thompsons’ generosity has been truly transformative for the jazz studies program,” said John Davis, dean of the College of Music. “Thanks to their support, students and faculty now have opportunities that were never possible before — whether international exchanges in Costa Rica and Cuba, collaborations with world-class musicians or hosting guest artists on campus.

“The Thompson Jazz Endowment fund has elevated our program to a new level, fostering professional connections, creative growth and unparalleled experiences for our students.”

Give to the Thompson Jazz Studies Program

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