Elon values the support from all its benefactors, who are listed on Elon鈥檚 Honor Roll of Donors. The university also has a variety of giving clubs and societies that recognize donors who make annual, planned and lifetime cumulative gifts to the university. These recognition groups celebrate the generosity of alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends who make gifts each year to support university operations and whose lifelong commitments help secure Elon鈥檚 future. Elon鈥檚 exceptional programs and opportunities would not be possible without the loyal support of these benefactors.

To learn more about these societies, .

Cumulative Giving Societies

Numen Lumen Society

The university鈥檚 premier cumulative giving society, the Numen Lumen Society, recognizes benefactors whose cash gifts to Elon equal $1 million or more. The Latin words 鈥渘umen鈥 and 鈥渓umen,鈥 which mean 鈥渟piritual light鈥 and 鈥渋ntellectual light,鈥 signify the highest purposes of an Elon education.

Palladian Society

鈥淧alladian鈥 is derived from Latin and means 鈥減ertaining to wisdom, knowledge, or study.鈥 Members of the Palladian Society have made cumulative lifetime cash gifts to Elon totaling between $500,000 and $999,999.

Aesculus Society

鈥淎esculus鈥 is an ancient Latin term for 鈥渢allest oak.鈥 Members of the Aesculus Society have made cumulative lifetime cash gifts to Elon totaling between $100,000 and $499,999.

Annual Giving Societies & Clubs

The Elon SocietyThe Elon Society

The Elon Society is the university鈥檚 premier annual giving recognition society and includes all donors who give $1,500 or more each year for any purpose. Alumni who graduated within the past 10 years may join The Elon Society at special rates.


The 1889 Society

The 1889 Society is an annual giving society that recognizes Elon donors for their consistent support of聽the university. Donors become a part of聽the 1889 Society by making a gift聽to Elon for two consecutive years, and remain聽1889 Society donors by supporting Elon every fiscal year.


elon phoenix athletics logoPhoenix Club IMPACT Circle

The IMPACT Circle is the premier donor recognition group for the Phoenix Club and Elon athletics. Members of the IMPACT Circle include donors who make annual contributions of $5,000 or more to athletics or have made cumulative gifts of $1 million or more exclusively designated for annual, endowment and capital athletics purposes.


Grandparent Leadership Society

Grandparents of current students and Elon alumni become part of the Grandparent Leadership Society by contributing $5,000 or more annually to the Parents & Grandparents Fund or other Elon operating funds, by making a planned gift valued at $25,000 or more, or by having made cumulative gifts totaling $25,000 or more to the university.

Learn more about the Grandparent Leadership Society


order of the oak logoOrder of the Oak

The Order of the Oak recognizes donors who, through their planned gifts such as bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, pooled income funds and life insurance policies, are helping to build a vital pipeline of resources to secure Elon鈥檚 future.