In 1984, the Philomathean Endowment Trust was founded by Simon Glinsky, Charles Fine Ludwig, Michael Gessel, and Sylvie Steber Muldoon to secure the Society's future and enhance its offerings to future generations.

After many years of aspiration by both Junior and Senior Members, who hoped for a "Philofund" endowment, the Society's Moderator, Simon Glinsky '84, invited Charles Fine Ludwig to work together to create an endowment for the Society.  Together, they developed plans for fundraising and creating an infrastructure. Michael Gessel '78 and Sylvie Steber Muldoon '78 had worked with other Senior Members to create the Betty L. Rosencranz Library Fund, the first permanent fund. Upon joining the effort, the four founding trustees created The 175th Anniversary Committee to raise funds and create the formal Trust. The Philomathean Endowment Trust was formally announced at the 175th Anniversary Gala Dinner in front of hundreds of Members, guests and dignitaries. 

The Trust holds Annual Meetings in the Philomathean Halls and counts the Moderator among its trustees, honoring the Society's role as a crucible for student leadership. Trustees are elected for three year terms, and the Trust includes young alumni as well as two of its founding trustees. In structuring the Trust, the founders implemented generally accepted endowment fund best practices as well as cultural hallmarks of the Society, such as investing for the long-term, creating a spending rule and annual budget cycle, fulfilling requirements for reporting and maintaining 501(c) (3) status, holding meetings according to Robert's Rules, and including a healthy component of parliamentary style procedure and wit.  

Online donations are temporarily unavailable. To make a donation, please send a check to:

Philomathean Endowment Trust

1500 Chestnut St. #2255

Philadelphia, PA 19102

Officers

Mr. Daniel E. Orr ('98), Chair

Mr. Richard A. Cardona ('96), Vice-Chair *

Mr. Michael D. Gessel ('78), Secretary

Mr. Dan Martineau ('98), Treasurer

Membership

Mr. Simon Glinsky ('84)

Dr. Robert Rubinoff ('81)

Ms. Heather Barlow ('96)

How does my donation help the Junior Membership?

The Philomathean Endowment Trust supports the efforts of the Junior Membership, funding projects and capital improvements that their dues and traditional revenue streams cannot accomodate.

To learn more about the activities of the Junior Membership, please visit their website.