Kent Rowing Endowment

The Kent School Boat Club Endowment exists to ensure the long-term strength, stability, and independence of rowing at Kent. Built through the leadership and generosity of alumni, parents, and supporters, the endowment provides enduring support for the program and reflects a shared commitment to its future.

Rowing has been a defining part of life at Kent for more than a century. The endowment is an investment in preserving that legacy while ensuring that future generations of students continue to benefit from exceptional coaching, competitive opportunity, and a program grounded in strong values. It represents a collective effort to steward Kent rowing thoughtfully and responsibly over time.

Why The Endowment Matters

Endowment support plays a critical role in sustaining Kent School Boat Club beyond the constraints of annual funding cycles. By design, the endowment provides stable, long-term resources that allow the program to plan carefully, maintain high standards, and respond thoughtfully to the evolving demands of the sport.

Endowment funds are dedicated exclusively to Kent rowing. They support core program needs such as coaching continuity, equipment and fleet maintenance, training resources, and the overall competitive and educational experience of student-athletes. This structure ensures that resources raised for rowing remain aligned with the program’s mission and priorities.

Just as importantly, the endowment reinforces the idea that Kent rowing is a shared, intergenerational responsibility. It allows alumni and supporters to contribute in a way that has lasting impact, strengthening the program not only for today’s crews, but for those who will row at Kent decades from now.

Stewardship & Leadership

The Kent School Boat Club Endowment is guided by a group of dedicated alumni and supporters who serve as stewards of the campaign and its long-term vision. This group works closely with the school and the coaching staff to ensure that funds are raised thoughtfully, managed responsibly, and applied in ways that align with the values and needs of the program.

Leadership of the endowment effort has been intentionally alumni-driven, reflecting a belief that the strongest stewardship comes from those who understand the program from lived experience. Over time, the effort has expanded to include representation from both the boys’ and girls’ rowing communities, reinforcing a unified approach to supporting rowing at Kent.

Stewardship is not limited to fundraising. It also includes thoughtful planning, clear communication, and an emphasis on building community among rowing alumni. The endowment effort has served as a catalyst for reconnecting former teammates and crews, strengthening ties across generations, and fostering a renewed sense of shared purpose.

The Kent School Boat Club Endowment effort is co-chaired by Vashti Chandler ’06 and The Rev. Thad Bennett ’71, reflecting a shared commitment across generations to the long-term strength of Kent rowing.

Impact Over Time

The impact of the Kent School Boat Club Endowment is measured not only in financial terms, but in continuity and opportunity. Endowment support helps ensure that Kent rowing remains competitive, well-resourced, and accessible to students who are drawn to the sport’s demands and rewards.

Over the past several years, alumni-led efforts have made meaningful progress toward building a durable endowment for rowing. That progress reflects broad-based participation across decades of alumni and a growing recognition of the importance of investing in the program’s future.

Looking ahead, the endowment will play an increasingly important role as Kent rowing enters its second century. It will support the program through future milestones, including the centennial of Kent’s first appearance at Henley in 1927, and help ensure that rowing at Kent continues to reflect the same seriousness of purpose that has defined it for generations.

Alumni and supporters who are interested in learning more about the endowment, contributing to its growth, or participating in stewardship efforts are encouraged to reach out. The strength of the program has always rested on the commitment of those who care deeply about its future.