Delta Zeta Grants provide a lifeline that lasts a lifetime

Receiving an Elizabeth Coulter Stephenson Grant can impact a Delta Zeta sister for the rest of her life. The Grant provides emergency assistance to collegiate sisters facing financial hardships that impact their ability to remain in school or continue their membership. It reflects every Delta Zeta woman’s commitment to compassion, sisterhood and support for one another during difficult times.

The Grant is named for Elizabeth “Bess” Coulter Stephenson, Alpha, Miami University (OH), who was Delta Zeta’s first new member. As a graduate student, she helped establish the Beta Chapter at Cornell University. Bess later served as National President from 1912 to 1916.

The Grant is making an incredible impact on our collegians and the lives they will lead as alumnae. Two Delta Zeta sisters recently reflected on the impact the Elizabeth Coulter Stephenson Grant had on them as collegians and its lifetime impact on their experience of Delta Zeta sisterhood.

“My family had financial struggles when I was growing up because my dad was injured at work. I saw how it affected my family and my mother specifically. My two sisters and I had to pay our own way through college. I was in classes full time and working along with taking out loans to pay for my tuition.”

Jennifer Thibodeaux, Epsilon Mu, University of Southern Mississippi, found her place and her people through Delta Zeta after transferring to the University of Southern Mississippi, and she was not ready to risk losing the meaningful friendships and support system helping her thrive.

“Someone told me about the Elizabeth Coulter Stephenson Grant. I would not have been able to stay in Delta Zeta without it. And it was different from other scholarships because of the support for my dues. That meant so much to me, because Delta Zeta was the core of my college experience. It helped me get through the rest of college because I was able to stay close to my Delta Zeta sisters. Being able to stay meant that we got to live in the dorm together, spend our free time together, do philanthropy together, facilitate recruitment together and socialize with women with the same interests. Because of the Grant, I was able to put my energy into more aspects of Delta Zeta, including supporting my big sis who was Treasurer, running for Treasurer the next year and ultimately serving as a Guard.”

Jennifer has continued to experience the lifelong benefits of Delta Zeta sisterhood through her close relationships with her chapter sisters.

“My family group, which includes my dearest friend since middle school, are all still in my life as friends and mentors. We are involved in each other’s children’s lives, and my mother even sponsored one of my Delta Zeta sisters when she was confirmed in the Catholic Church years after we graduated from college.”

When she thinks about the broader impact of the Grant, she reflects on how many women have faced the unimaginable choice of leaving Delta Zeta sisterhood because of their family’s financial situation. Their ability to remain sisters not only impacts them; they shape Delta Zeta.

“There are so many women who make Delta Zeta what it is. It would be a shame if they weren’t able to stay because of finances. The reality is that it is very expensive, but it is so worthwhile. The Elizabeth Coulter Stephenson Grant helps those women who need that little bit of extra support to stay in and be able to continue with their experiences in college. They help shape their chapter and the whole Sorority. And then that stays with you forever.”

Foundation Trustee Jennifer “Jenny” Bogen Morrison, Theta, The Ohio State University, credits the Grant with her ability to continue to serve Delta Zeta today.

“The Elizabeth Coulter Stephenson Grant is the reason why, 45 years later, I am still a Delta Zeta.”

By her senior year of college, Jenny had tapped all of the emergency resources available to her through Ohio State. When her College Chapter Director helped her call upon the Elizabeth Coulter Stephenson Grant, it made all the difference.

“I was flat-out broke. After I received the Elizabeth Coulter Stephenson Grant, I made it a mission to one day pay it forward. My very first gift to the Foundation was the following Fall for $5. From that point on, I continued to give as best I could through raising a family and different jobs. At times my giving has been time or talent, and now I am blessed to be able to give treasure as well.”

Jenny also serves as Vice President of the Delta Zeta Foundation in addition to giving generously in support of Scholarships, the General Fund and the Elizabeth Coulter Stephenson Grant Fund.

Jennifer Thibodeaux also serves Delta Zeta as a volunteer Scholarship Reader and makes a monthly gift to support the Elizabeth Coulter Stephenson Grant as her way to give back and stay connected to Delta Zeta.

“Volunteering is important in my family. After volunteering with Girl Scouts for a long time, I started thinking about what else I could do to give back. When I remembered my Delta Zeta Grant, I began looking for opportunities to get involved again.”

Before she became a Scholarship Reader, Jennifer was trying to figure out how to give back to Delta Zeta.

“There is no local collegiate chapter or alumnae chapter where I live now. But I saw that there was a giving section on the Delta Zeta website and thought, ‘If I can’t give time to Delta Zeta right now, I can give some money.’ I give to pay it forward. I give specifically to the Elizabeth Coulter Stephenson Grant because it was what allowed me to stay in Delta Zeta. I don’t have a whole lot, but it’s important to me because other women are in the same boat that I was when I was in school. I’ve been where they are, and I know how it feels. Giving monthly is something small that I can do, and it makes me feel good to support my sisters.”

Delta Zeta women around the world are directly impacted by donor investment in the Elizabeth Coulter Stephenson Grant. They, in turn, make an incredible impact on our sisterhood. Your gift to the Grant through the Delta Zeta Foundation truly makes a difference for women now and for the rest of their lives.