Columns THE
THANK YOU TO OUR LOYAL DONORS
ALPHA GAMS ARE
Alpha Gamma Delta is loving, leading and lasting thanks to our loyal donors. This newsletter is published to share your impact, and to thank you for believing in our Foundation’s mission of providing essential support for women’s education, philanthropy and leadership.
Loving
We are going ALL OUT for Alpha Gam as our Day of Giving returns on March 25!
Sisters, family and friends from around the world will come together for 1,904 minutes of giving that uplifts sisters and communities through education, philanthropy and leadership.
#AlphaGamGives features live fundraising leaderboards, a Facebook event page to celebrate and connect, and giving challenges funded by generous sisters and friends that help donors maximize their donations by unlocking additional gifts.
One of the most impactful ways to participate is as an #AlphaGamGives Ambassador. These dedicated sisters make their gifts then take to social media and their communities to spread the
great news about Day of Giving and its impact.
Heather Sprinkle, Theta Epsilon-University of South Alabama, has been an Ambassador since the Foundation's first Day of Giving in 2019.
“I love the competition, but what I really enjoy is taking one day to highlight what Alpha Gam has given me and the work the Foundation does,” she said.
Gifts made during Day of Giving support academic scholarships, crisis relief grants, leadership programming, fighting hunger and more. The best part is, donors can designate their gift to support chapter-specific giving opportunities or funds of choice.
“Alpha Gam has brought so many amazing women into my life, and I think we all get excited for Day of Giving because we probably know someone who has benefited from the Foundation,” Heather said. “The Foundation truly makes a difference in the lives of so many, and I'm proud to take the opportunity to help showcase and grow what they do!”
To learn more about how you can get involved in #AlphaGamGives 2026, visit alphagammadeltafoundation.org/ dayofgiving.
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ALPHA GAMMA DELTA FOUNDATION
ALPHA GAMS ARE
Leading
LOVING & LEADING THROUGH CONFLICT
One of the most intimidating, yet highly impactful skills a young leader can possess is the ability to navigate conflict effectively.
Recognizing the importance of this skill and its role in developing confident women leaders, the Fraternity has created The Conflict Lab, a comprehensive conflict resolution program designed for collegiate officers and advisors.
Led by Dr. Daryl Appleton, Gamma Zeta–University of Memphis, the training was first introduced to more than 1,100 collegiate leaders during the Fraternity’s virtual Academy for Collegiate Officers. It has since been expanded into a seven-module course available through Acorn, Alpha Gam’s digital learning management system.
ALPHA GAMS ARE
Lasting
HONORING CHERISHED FRIENDSHIPS
Alpha Gamma Delta shaped Sandy Novak’s life through two powerful gifts: lifelong friendship and opportunities to grow as a leader and professional.
Sandy Novak, Iota-University of Washington, is a retired hospital administrator, professional photographer and dedicated Alpha Gam advisor, volunteer and sister. Through her two newest scholarship endowments, Sandy is honoring two of her most cherished friendships while opening doors for generations of Iota sisters.
Sabra Sundt Jacobs was Sandy’s “big sister” in Iota Chapter, and she recalls their union as “life changing.” According to Sandy, when they met, Sabra had just returned from a summer working in Yellowstone National Park and shared fantastic stories of her experience.
Inspired by her travels, Sandy went to Yellowstone the following summer, kickstarting a lifelong passion for travel. This year, Sandy established the Sabra Sundt Jacobs Scholarship in celebration of their friendship and shared love of travel.
"We tend to think of conflict as a disruption to leadership when in actuality it is a defining feature of it," Dr. Daryl said. "If we want to develop women who can lead organizations, build companies, sit at executive tables and influence culture, we must equip them to navigate tension with skill."
Through The Conflict Lab, sisters learn to distinguish conflict from discomfort, deliver feedback without damaging relationships, address tensions early and separate their “friend hat” from their “officer hat.” They finish the course with skills in emotional regulation under pressure, structured communication frameworks and strategic decision-making.
Dr. Daryl explained, "[The Conflict Lab] strengthens not just chapters, but the long-term leadership (and relationship) capacity of the women within them. The same skills used to navigate a chapter disagreement are the skills required to lead a team, negotiate a contract, manage a marriage or friendship or address inequity in the world. The hope is that the ripple effect extends far beyond a chapter meeting and it follows our women into community leadership, graduate programs, healthy relationships, boardrooms and beyond."
Thanks to generous donors, the Foundation is proud to fund essential women's leadership programs, including The Conflict Lab.
“She had a major impact on my life and all that I’ve done,” Sandy said. “Travel opens your eyes and helps you understand more about people and the world. You see different cultures and often understand how similar we are to other people and yet respect our differences. I think that’s something that’s helped me in my career.”
Sandy met Iota sister Cherie Tucker years later as an alumna and admires her deep love and commitment to Alpha Gam. She shared fond memories of Cherie delighting collegians by singing Fraternity songs, sharing Alpha Gam’s history and generously giving her time in service to our sisterhood. Sandy established the Cherie Tucker Scholarship in honor of their sisterhood and Cherie’s service to and love for Iota Chapter.
"I just admire Cherie so much,” she said. “She gave so much and made such a difference for so many young women. I wanted a way to honor that.”
According to Sandy, these scholarships are a way to give back what Alpha Gam has given her, while easing the financial burden many collegiate sisters face today.
“So many of our collegiate women struggle to pay for college. A lot of them in my chapter are working halftime, or even fulltime,” she said. “I’m hoping that a scholarship will help them, as well as engender loyalty to Alpha Gam and motivation to become involved when they become alumnae.”
In honoring the sisters who shaped her journey, Sandy is ensuring future Iota women have the support and opportunities they need to build their own lifelong friendships and impact on our sisterhood.
FOUNDATION News
TAX TIPS
Starting in 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) reinstates the charitable deduction for non-itemizers.
Single filers: Deduct up to $1,000
Married filing jointly: Deduct up to $2,000
IRA Charitable Distributions
Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) or a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your IRA to the Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, for your mission area of choice.
Donor Advised Funds (DAF)
A gift from your donor advised fund will impact the lives of our sisters and communities.
Appreciated Stocks or Securities
Make a gift of appreciated stock to maximize your tax benefit. You may avoid capital gains taxes while receiving an income tax deduction for the full fair market value of your gift.
Always consult with a tax professional to stay up-to-date on tax laws and discuss which giving vehicles are best for you.
NEW PLANNED GIVING RESOURCES
The Foundation has upgraded its planned giving site! Scan the QR code below to check out our new and improved resources for wills, trusts, donor advised funds and more, including our Personal Estate Planning Kit!
Join the Foundation for our eigth annual Day of
#AlphaGamGives is a 1,904-minute fundraiser benefiting women’s education, philanthropy and leadership. Throughout Day of Giving, Alpha Gam sisters and supporters participate in fundraising matches and challenges and spread their love for our sisterhood across social media.
Get involved today by scanning the QR code below!
YOUR LASTING GIFT
Columns THE
OUR MISSION: The Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation impacts and enriches our communities by providing essential support for education, philanthropy and leadership.
Your Legacy
DO YOU HAVE A WILL?
The Corinthian Society recognizes forward-thinking sisters who name the Foundation in their estate plans. To learn more, contact Foundation CEO Julie Waitman at 317.663.4242.
