The Music of Philanthropy
“Central is a special place. It gave me a very beneficial scholarship. I think it is important to support the place that supported me as a student and as a young professional.”
– Anna Swanson ’03
Hometown: Lakeville, Minnesota
Major: Economics
Student Activities: Student Senate; study abroad in Merida, Mexico; choir; Chamber Singers; and intramurals
Graduate Study: Master’s degree in public policy, Hubert Humphry Institute for Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
Current Location: Chicago, Illinois
Anna Swanson’s goal is to use her education to do good in the world. She’s on tune for doing that both personally and professionally.
Swanson worked for Central following graduation, first in the admission office and then in the development office running the annual fund. Later, she went to graduate school and then worked as an analyst and consultant helping private colleges and universities set enrollment and financial aid policies. Today she is senior vice president of analytics at Grenzebach, Glier & Associates, a philanthropic consulting company.
“We partner with nonprofits to help them raise more money, more effectively — helping them fulfill their mission,” Swanson says.
When she’s not helping other nonprofits, she’s singing Central’s virtues.
“Central is a special place. It gave me a very beneficial scholarship. I think it is important to support the place that supported me as a student and as a young professional. I observe carefully how Central is evolving and continually impress upon people around me the value of the time that I spent at Central,” she says.
The artist Bono says that music can change the world because it can change people. Swanson seems to live this concept out. The programs she supports at Central include scholarships and the Douwstra Auditorium renovation.
“The Douwstra renovation drew me because it involved choral music,” Swanson confesses. “I also support student scholarships because I know more than most people do about financial aid and the part that it plays at a place like Central. After my pledge to Douwstra is fulfilled, I’ll probably start endowing a scholarship.”
Swanson is making these things happen because she is grateful for her Central experience.
“Study abroad was hugely influential in my life. It changed my world view. Central really emphasized having respect for other people and cultures, and when you do, doors open for you that aren’t open for others. Early in my career, Central gave me a lot of responsibility. It allowed me to work with admissions, development and information technology to start applying data analytics to recruitment and development, which wasn’t much done back then. It foreshadowed the work I do now,” she says.