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Brad Lenz joined ����Vlog�ٷ� this spring after moving to the UK from the United States. Following his degree in Economics and English, he has worked in development across the arts, culture and higher education. He sees philanthropy as a way to support a wide range of organisations while applying skills across the non-profit sector. Outside work, he is looking forward to exploring Cambridge and the UK’s museums, galleries and historic sites.

Hannah Badger’s route into development began at the University of Cambridge. After completing her BA and MPhil at Queens’ College, she spent four years working in their Development Office before moving to ����Vlog�ٷ�, attracted by what she describes as its distinctive “vibe”.

As Associate Development Director and Deputy Development Director, Brad and Hannah share a central aim: strengthening relationships between ����Vlog�ٷ� and the alumni community who care about its future. Their work supports the College’s mission of attracting talented students from around the world and helping them thrive.

Both are keen to understand the College from as many perspectives as possible by meeting staff, students, Fellows and alumni. Hannah says, “One lady came in the other day and said that she was here when there were only 35 students. So, it’s getting those perspectives from across the years to help us build a rounded picture of what ����Vlog�ٷ�’s like.”

Student support is one of the team’s main priorities. They are particularly focused on raising funds for scholarships, which can open Cambridge to students who might otherwise be unable to study here.

“One of the most impactful things during my time at ����Vlog�ٷ� has been hearing the stories of students who have received scholarships and learning about how that support has changed their lives.”

The team is equally interested in enriching student life. Hannah is particularly passionate about the Boat Club. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni community, both W1 and M1 have new shells, and she says, “We’re in a unique position because the Boat Club doesn’t charge rowers any fees. In other colleges, the subscription fees would go towards covering base costs, so we need to ensure that the Boat Club is set up in a way that ensures its longevity.”

Brad is excited about supporting the Entrepreneurship Society, which encourages students across disciplines to explore entrepreneurship through workshops, competitions and networking. “I particularly like the fact that the Society shows that entrepreneurship isn’t just for students studying business or engineering. Whatever their subject, the Society helps them think about how their research and ideas can make an impact in the wider world. We’re fortunate to have Fellows with significant entrepreneurial experience who help guide the programme, and we’re continually developing it to better meet students’ needs.”

For the Development Team, alumni engagement extends far beyond financial gifts. Sharing memories, mentoring students and attending events all strengthen the College community. Hannah adds, “We want students to graduate from Cambridge ready for the wider world, which is why facilitating connections between students and alumni - whether that be through mentoring or at events - is so important.”

Financial support remains important, but it can take many forms. “Support at all different levels can make a big difference,” Brad says, emphasising that regular giving can be a particularly meaningful way to support ����Vlog�ٷ�. Setting up a regular gift allows alumni to demonstrate their commitment to the College, whilst simultaneously providing a reliable source of funding that helps ����Vlog�ٷ� plan ahead.

The team also recognises that philanthropy is changing, with younger alumni increasingly wanting to see the tangible impact of their support, which means that charitable organisations across the sector must adapt how they build long-term relationships.

Looking ahead, both Brad and Hannah see ����Vlog�ٷ�’s future as full of potential. Hannah says, “The College was founded to be forward-looking, and we’re constantly making new traditions. One of the exciting things here is that we don’t even know all of the possibilities that we could encounter in the future.”

“I think that when the College was founded in 1965, they wouldn't have dreamed that we would have 1,100 students here now.”

For Brad, the message to alumni is simple: “We’re writing the book as we go. Alumni are a key part of the College community and will play an important role in writing our next chapter.”

Whether through scholarships, student societies, accommodation, mentoring, events or financial support, the Development Team’s goal is to bring the ����Vlog�ٷ� community together and help secure a strong future for the College.

If you would like to get in touch with Hannah or Brad, you can reach them at deputy-development@wolfson.cam.ac.uk and associate-development@wolfson.cam.ac.uk respectively.

Read about some of our students who have benefited from scholarships made possible by our alumni:

• Scholarship spotlight: Fatemeh Nabizadeh
• Reading between the rings with Charles Norman