About the CLA Alumni Annual Fund The CLA Alumni Annual Fund (AAF) was established in 1958 as   the foundation of alumni support, providing funding for the school’s highest priorities. The AAF enhances teaching, learning and living at Hamline University. Unrestricted gifts from alumni and friends provide opportunities for increased student scholarships, improvements to campus buildings, expanded faculty and student programs, updated technology and strengthened academic and co-curricular programs. Alumni Annual Fund support adds value to the Hamline experience for each CLA student. The Alumni Annual Fund not only serves the purpose of raising money, it’s also an important way for alumni to be involved with the college. The alumni participation rate is an important indicator of alumni involvement for our rankings in U.S. News & World Report and in receiving grants from foundations and corporations. Throughout the years, alumni volunteers have played an increasingly important role. Today, the fund is led by alumni volunteers serving in a number of capacities, supported by Hamline staff members. A Class Agent is a volunteer who coordinates fundraising for his or her class. Typically there is one Class Agent per class, though we encourage more than on if there is a desire to work as a team. The primary focus of a Class Agent is to help increase both the number of alumni participating and the dollars raised. The Class Agents are led by the Alumni Annual Fund Board of Directors. These are the Decade Captains, who oversee each decade of Class Agents. They provide leadership to ensure that fundraising goals are met. Click here to volunteer as a Class Agent.