Following a distinguished career, including more than 30 years of overall service in support of his beloved Fraternity, Sigma Chi Foundation Senior Director of Principal Gifts and Order of Constantine Sig Frank Raymond, PENN STATE 1971, has announced his retirement effective July 31.

“While this moment is bittersweet for each of us who have known and worked alongside him for many years, we congratulate Frank for a wonderful 28-and-a-half years of service to Sigma Chi through our Foundation,” said Sigma Chi Foundation President & CEO Ashley Woods, EAST TENNESSEE 2000.

“Throughout his career, Frank helped our Foundation provide the benchmark of support amongst all Greek-letter organizations. He has been a true cornerstone and mentor within our team, and a great brother and friend to Sigma Chis across North America. We appreciate his leadership and friendship, and honor the impact he has helped our Foundation make since 1993.”

Brother Raymond, who served as Consul of the Alpha Chi chapter at Penn State, began his professional career as an associate executive secretary (AES) on the Sigma Chi Fraternity staff from 1971 to 1973, during which time he visited 75 chapters.

He joined the Sigma Chi Foundation in December 1993 following early career roles within The White House correspondence office and as a development officer at the University of Florida and Penn State University.

From 1995 to 2005, he succeeded Order of Constantine and Significant Sig Merrill “Boz” Prichard, ILLINOIS 1948, as the Foundation’s President and CEO. In this role, he helped secure the seed funding from Significant Sig Bob McNair, SOUTH CAROLINA 1958, to develop and launch what is known today as the Horizons Huntsman Leadership Summit, led the Foundation’s efforts with the L.G. Balfour Foundation to underwrite educational elements of Sigma Chi’s annual workshop and worked to expand the Foundation’s academic scholarship reach.

Since 2005, Raymond has held a position of senior leadership in the organization’s development arm, working with Sigma Chi alumni across the country to further support Sigma Chi’s ongoing growth in leadership initiatives and donor-scholarship efforts. As a volunteer, he also served Sigma Chi as a faculty member for the annual leadership workshop (now Krach Transformational Leaders Workshop).

“Sigma Chi did a lot for me as an undergraduate,” said Raymond. “When I had the opportunity to give back, especially with the Foundation, it was an opportunity to help young men experience what I experienced, and I never regretted it.

“I always thought if you worked hard, things would eventually fall into place for you. I’m proud of the fact that I worked hard. … If I’ve contributed anything positive with my 28 years of service to make the Foundation a better, more productive, honest organization, then I feel I’ve accomplished something.”

Over the course of his career, the impact of Frank’s work with generous alumni has netted millions in support of Sigma Chi’s undergraduate and graduate student brothers. It’s a lasting impact that will benefit generations of brothers to come. 

“On behalf of the Foundation Board of Governors, I am pleased to convey the sincere gratitude and appreciation of the Board to Brother Raymond upon his retirement,” said Foundation Board of Governors Chairman and Significant Sig Jeff Gill, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 1978. “Our objective is to help the Fraternity reach out and have a positive impact on as many young men as possible. Since 1993, Frank’s efforts have been instrumental in reengaging many of our alumni through their support of our world-class leadership development programs and academic scholarship efforts.

“Thousands of young brothers have been impacted through the programs and financial aid for which Frank has long worked to help secure funding. We will be forever grateful to Frank for his lasting contribution and outstanding service to the Foundation. He will be missed by all.”

Although his retirement officially begins August 1, Raymond will continue to assist the Foundation, as needed, as a senior consultant for major gift efforts.

While he will miss the Foundation team and connecting with brothers, he looks forward to additional time with his longtime sweetheart and wife, Nancy, their two daughters, Juli and Anna Marie, as well as two grandchildren.

“I’ll miss our staff,” Raymond added. “There have been some great, great people who worked for me, and later worked with me. I always looked forward to going into the office. I liked the people, not only on the Foundation staff but on the Fraternity staff. I’ll also miss the great relationships I’ve developed with brothers across North America.

“It’s almost cliché to say I’ve been blessed, but I really feel that I have been.”