The Fund usually receives three or four gifts in the $100,000 range but so far there is only one large gift this year. Fund officials said they seek small gifts from many alumni, rather than large gifts from a few wealthy donors. The average gift last year was approximately $285 but the median was less than $100, Peter C. Brooks '74, assistant director of the Fund said yesterday.

Give 'Em An Inch...

"If you can get an alumni to give a small gift once, you can build on that in the future," Phillips said.

Although fundraisers seek funds from all Harvard alumni, more than 60 per cent of the donors are members of reunion classes. Last year's 25th reunion gift raised a record $1.2 million, William C. Sawyer '51, who headed his class's drive last year said yesterday. Sawyer said preliminary figures for the Class of 1952 gift look very promising.

Traditionally the 25th reunion gift is larger than the 50th reunion gift. If the roles are reversed this year, it will be a Harvard first, Clifton said, adding that the Class of 1927 is "unbelievable."

Last year's tenth reunion class has a few very large gifts which allowed it to raise an unprecedented sum which Clifton said will "probably be unbeatable for years." This year's tenth reunion won't exceed the amount in dollar terms but they will probably set a participation record, he added.

Representatives from the Class of 1967 reached 40 per cent of their classmates via telephone this fall, eliciting gift pledges from 86 per cent of those contacted. A follow up campaign is planned for this spring.

Clifton said the class's participation level is particularly encouraging. Recent graduates face college debts or graduate school fees and typically don't contribute to the Fund.

"I'm almost tempted to leave them alone," Clifton said half-kiddingly. But asking for small contributions of $10 or $15 keeps the younger alumni in touch with the Fund, Brooks said.

A major barrier to reaching these alumni is simply locating them, Clifton said. Graduates in their 20s and 30s are continually on the move and "it's like trying to find an Arab nomad.