Since the beginning of the SME Education Foundation in 1979, SME members and friends have played a significant role in making this Foundation a prestigious leader in the field of manufacturing engineering education.

From the member who makes a $25 gift as part of his membership renewal to the individuals and organizations whose million-dollar gifts have formed the bedrock of the Foundation's endowment, this Foundation has been blessed with a strong constituency of people dedicated to advancing manufacturing education.

To honor these forward-thinking donors, the SME Education Foundation has created several recognition programs. Here you will learn how the Foundation will recognize your gifts.


The Partners in Manufacturing Education Circle

The PME Circle is an annual giving recognition program that recognizes total giving of $1,000 or more within a given calendar year. The total of all the gifts an individual makes within the year counts towards this recognition program.

$1,000	Partners Circle
$5,000	Partners Bronze Circle
$25,000	Partners Silver Circle
$50,000	Partners Gold Circle
$100,000	Partners Platinum Circle

The Founders Society

Through out the history of the Foundation extraordinary leadership has been demonstrated in both the areas of volunteerism and philanthropy. The Founders Society seeks to recognize those individuals and organizations that have made significant gifts to the Foundation over a lifetime of giving. This cumulative giving recognition program allows the Foundation to give our highest tribute to those who have made major commitments to the future of manufacturing education and the work of the Foundation.

$1,000,000 Level
$500,000 Level - Earl and Myrtle Walker Society
$250,000 Level - Allen Weber Society
$100,000 Level
$50,000 Level - Ralph Cross Society
$25,000 Level


The E. Wayne and Beulah Kay Heritage Society

The Kay Heritage Society provides recognition for individuals who support SME-EF through their financial and estate plans. Members have named the SME Education Foundation as the recipient of a bequest in a will or trust, or as a beneficiary in an insurance policy, or with a life income gift such as a charitable remainder trust or annuity.

To be recognized in the Kay Heritage Society:

• Make a gift in any amount to the SME Education Foundation from your estate
• Provide the Foundation with a copy of that portion of your estate plan pertaining to the gift, and/or
• Provide the Foundation with a signed copy of a Kay Heritage Society Statement of Intent form (Word document 20 KB)


The SME Corporate Scholars Program

The SME Corporate Scholars program allows corporations, foundations and businesses the unique opportunity to support the work of the SME Education Foundation while receiving recognition through an annual named scholarship.

When a corporation makes an annual, unrestricted gift at designated levels, the Foundation will award a scholarship in the corporation's name in the following year. All corporate donors of $1,000 or more will be recognized in the Foundation's Partner in Manufacturing Education Circle program.

Annual Gift		Recognition
$1,000		Partners Circle
$10,000		$1,000 Named Scholarship
$25,000		$2,500 Named Scholarship
$50,000		$5,000 Named Scholarship

Therefore, if XYZ Company makes an unrestricted gift of $10,000 in 2009, the Foundation will select a $1000 SME XYZ Company Scholar during its 2010 scholarship deliberations. The Foundation can work with the company to link the scholarship recipient with key colleges.

Like an annual gift from an individual, the impact of a corporate annual gift is immediate. The gift provides the Foundation with the resources to operate the distribution of its scholarship, grants and awards programs.