Women’s Philanthropy, with Ali Bane Hammond

Ali Bane Hammond ’07, PhD’23, has experienced Boston College in almost every capacity: student, mentor, teacher, administrator, and advancement officer. That range gives her an unusually broad view of the University and of the many ways people engage with the institution.

Her career is a case study in discernment, moving from the glamorous world of television to a more fulfilling path working with students and then parents at the Heights. Along the way, she grew increasingly connected to women’s leadership at BC, whether through mentoring, teaching, or working alongside all‑women teams. Those experiences now inform how she approaches her work as the inaugural director of women’s philanthropy.

Ali is now tasked with building BC’s first women’s philanthropy initiative from the ground up, drawing on her institutional knowledge and her understanding of what resonates with BC women.

The Q&A that follows offers a closer look at how she thinks about the work ahead.

How did you first come to BC?

My paternal grandfather was Class of 1944 and he raised his family in Arlington, Massachusetts—all Irish Catholic—and all four kids went to BC, the youngest of whom was my dad, who went to the Woods College while he worked full time. Two years after graduating, he met my mom, who was a Lynch School grad. So, it was a special moment for my whole family when I chose to attend BC, too.

You used to work at NBC but ended up returning to BC. What called you back?

I love telling this story to students, because it’s such an example of discernment at work in my life. I was working in television news in New York City, which was fun, but after a few years I started hearing Fr. Michael Himes’s three questions echoing in my head: Do I love it? Am I good at it? Does the world need it? I thought back to my formative BC experiences—working as an orientation leader, going on retreats, learning from mentors like Biz Bracher ’91, MA’95, PhD’03, P’22 [director of Cornerstone and Capstone Seminar Programs]—and realized I felt a calling to work in higher education. That ultimately led me back to BC, where I joined First Year Experience and ran programs like Orientation and 48hours. In 2022, I transitioned to University Advancement to lead our parent fundraising efforts, which I loved and which deepened my understanding of the BC community.

What drew you to the women’s philanthropy role?

The thread of women’s leadership has woven its way through my work life, especially in recent years. I serve as a Rise mentor through the BC Women’s Center, I led an all-woman team for some time, and I worked with an all-female dissertation committee while researching female undergraduates. And last year, all 18 seats in a Capstone seminar I taught were filled with only women—unexpected, since the course doesn’t focus on gender. When I saw this new position, I knew I couldn’t pass up the chance to help build out a women’s philanthropy initiative for this institution that I love.

What are the University’s goals for the women’s philanthropy initiative?

Simply put, our goal is to enhance philanthropy from women at BC and elevate the role they play as impactful donors and volunteers. We know women are deeply involved in philanthropic decisions, but their motivations and giving patterns often look different than men’s. We have both an opportunity and an obligation to partner with women donors in ways that feel right to them. We are thinking about and experimenting with ways to invite alumnae—and also parents and friends of the University who are women—into philanthropic leadership at BC, make their giving visible, and inspire others to do the same. It’s been really energizing work, so far.

What is the best part of working at BC?

Boston College is such a special institution—our alumni care so deeply; there is such a sense of pride and loyalty. I’ve worked at a few other universities and that’s not something I take for granted; most schools have to actively work to create it—BC just has it.

This interview has been edited and condensed.