DePauw Campaign Tops $300M Goal

[Jason Svoboda]

Maybe Indiana State should hire away some of their fundraising folks.

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/story/34734079/depauw-campaign-tops-300m-goal

 

[Westbadenboy]

How does that compare to what ISU raised with MARCH ON ?

 

[Bluethunder]

My guess is we didn't raise more than half of that number. Pretty sure the March On goal was around 100 million. They said the "exceeded the goal" but I dont know how much they ended up bringing in.

 

[shootingsycamore]

The "March On" Campaign was $85mm. Evan Bayh arranged the transfer of the Post Office (College of Business) to the University. It counted as a gift in kind and was valued at $8.5mm plus renovation. The Campaign raised less than $5mm in unrestricted gifts, that includes the annual fund.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

The "March On" Campaign was $85mm. Evan Bayh arranged the transfer of the Post Office (College of Business) to the University. It counted as a gift in kind and was valued at $8.5mm plus renovation. The Campaign raised less than $5mm in unrestricted gifts, that includes the annual fund.

Let me ask you as you have first hand knowledge. Why do you think our campaign wasn't successful compared to one like DePauw? When it was going on, I talked to quite a few people that never heard anything from Indiana State about donating.

I've said it for years now, but it feels like Indiana State goes exclusively after wealthy alums trying to get the 1 large donation rather than going for 1000 small donations. With our amazing business program, you'd think they'd educate the fundraising arm about the law of compounding interest.

 

[4Q_iu]

Let me ask you as you have first hand knowledge. Why do you think our campaign wasn't successful compared to one like DePauw? When it was going on, I talked to quite a few people that never heard anything from Indiana State about donating.

I've said it for years now, but it feels like Indiana State goes exclusively after wealthy alums trying to get the 1 large donation rather than going for 1000 small donations. With out amazing business program, you'd think they'd educate the fundraising arm about the law of compounding interest.

For argument's sake; what do you consider a "large" donation? A "small" donation?

How much courting, wooing is "necessary" for either donation?

Is there an amount you're comfortable donating without courting? $100? $250? $500? etc

 

[Jason Svoboda]

For argument's sake; what do you consider a "large" donation? A "small" donation?

How much courting, wooing is "necessary" for either donation?

Is there an amount you're comfortable donating without courting? $100? $250? $500? etc

What I consider is irrelevant. My guess is anything under 5 figures is considered small to the Foundation but I could be way off.

As for courting, a letter or call would be a good start I'd think?

 

[shootingsycamore]

What I consider is irrelevant. My guess is anything under 5 figures is considered small to the Foundation but I could be way off.

As for courting, a letter or call would be a good start I'd think?

Depending upon the institution a Major Gift Officer will work with prospective donors who have the ability to give a minimum of $25-50,000. It's called Moves Management; Discovery, Cultivation, the Ask and Stewardship. Yes, I agree every alumnus or interested party should be encouraged to participate in a campaign and be given an easy path to do so.

 

[shootingsycamore]

Much of the success of DePauw etc. is cultural. At Princeton, when a high school senior is accepted for admission, before they enroll, the family is visited by an alumnus. It's then explained what it means to be a Princeton Tiger and the concurrent obligations of an alumnus. That's one of the reasons Princeton has app. 62% of their alumni give annually. At DePauw,Wabash and other privates it's instilled as a freshman and continues for the undergraduate experience.They both have very high annual giving rates from their respective alumni.
The IBJ lists the lead donors for 2016 to IN colleges. $30mm from 2 donors to DePauw.
I'm not comparing ISU to those schools, just explaining the culture and some of the reasons they're quite successful.

 

[4Q_iu]

What I consider is irrelevant. My guess is anything under 5 figures is considered small to the Foundation but I could be way off.

As for courting, a letter or call would be a good start I'd think?

Thanks -- I know some alums that won't part with $5 unless they are courted... Some that have never given, never will BUT will wear nothing BUT non-ISU gear, donate to other universities athl booster clubs...

and those that will write a check for ~$1,000 - $2,500 without being courted.

my point is that everyone has a different motivation to give or NOT to give

I agree that ISU needs to be open to ALL amounts of donations; whether they be to a specific program OR to the general fund...

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Much of the success of DePauw etc. is cultural. At Princeton, when a high school senior is accepted for admission, before they enroll, the family is visited by an alumnus. It's then explained what it means to be a Princeton Tiger and the concurrent obligations of an alumnus. That's one of the reasons Princeton has app. 62% of their alumni give annually. At DePauw,Wabash and other privates it's instilled as a freshman and continues for the undergraduate experience.They both have very high annual giving rates from their respective alumni.
The IBJ lists the lead donors for 2016 to IN colleges. $30mm from 2 donors to DePauw.
I'm not comparing ISU to those schools, just explaining the culture and some of the reasons they're quite successful.

That's good info to share. Appreciate filling in the cracks on things like that.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Thanks -- I know some alums that won't part with $5 unless they are courted... Some that have never given, never will BUT will wear nothing BUT non-ISU gear, donate to other universities athl booster clubs...

and those that will write a check for ~$1,000 - $2,500 without being courted.

my point is that everyone has a different motivation to give or NOT to give

I agree that ISU needs to be open to ALL amounts of donations; whether they be to a specific program OR to the general fund...

Couldn't agree more and you're not doubt 100% correct -- different strokes for different folks. I can only go by the folks I personally know and none of them received a call or letter asking to donate.

I also routinely hear from teachers that Indiana State does a terrible job of mobilizing them to recruit on behalf of the school. Seems like they would be low hanging fruit and would be big priorities since they have access to human capital on top of potential donations.

There should be a joint project between the alumni association, foundation, athletics and admissions to compile lists of teaching alumni and put together a "State care package" at the beginning of every year that includes a couple pennants, football/basketball schedule posters, some teaching swag (a coffee mug or thermal cup, a package of ISU pens, a yearly planner), t-shirt and vouchers for 4 free tickets to a home football or basketball game. For teachers in the more immediate Wabash Valley area, I'd also include vouchers to give out to kids for excelling in the classroom, if that sort of thing is allowed -- I'm ignorant to rules surrounding that.

Bottom line is we're decades in and still seeing mediocre results yet everyone I know talks fondly about their time at State. At some point you've got to quit doing stuff that isn't working and try something new or maybe try something.

 

[WOZ]

Depending upon the institution a Major Gift Officer will work with prospective donors who have the ability to give a minimum of $25-50,000. It's called Moves Management; Discovery, Cultivation, the Ask and Stewardship. Yes, I agree every alumnus or interested party should be encouraged to participate in a campaign and be given an easy path to do so.

Does the Endowment Office have enough CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executives) employed in its ranks? People who actually know what the hell they're doing? Or, are most of its employees young, recently graduated alums, who are OJT and probably not making fund raising their career choice.
As alums, we can't expect much if the Endowment Office isn't properly staffed.

 

[shootingsycamore]

Does the Endowment Office have enough CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executives) employed in its ranks? People who actually know what the hell they're doing? Or, are most of its employees young, recently graduated alums, who are OJT and probably not making fund raising their career choice.
As alums, we can't expect much if the Endowment Office isn't properly staffed.

Woz, good questions. It's easy to see the makeup of the ISU Foundation by looking on their website. Since the Foundation has been absorbed by the University you'll be redirected to the University website and have to look under Development. There you can find the individual Development Officers. Very few if any are ISU alumni. On a side-note a CFRE is good for learning about the process and administration of a non profit. It won't help an individual become a good Major Gift/ Development Officer. I know many CFRE's who couldn't give $$ away much less raise $$.

 

[WOZ]

Woz, good questions. It's easy to see the makeup of the ISU Foundation by looking on their website. Since the Foundation has been absorbed by the University you'll be redirected to the University website and have to look under Development. There you can find the individual Development Officers. Very few if any are ISU alumni. On a side-note a CFRE is good for learning about the process and administration of a non profit. It won't help an individual become a good Major Gift/ Development Officer. I know many CFRE's who couldn't give $$ away much less raise $$.

Thanks CD. Do you think we've had a lot of turnover in recent years in the Endowment Office? If so, could that be one of our problems?

 

[shootingsycamore]

Thanks CD. Do you think we've had a lot of turnover in recent years in the Endowment Office? If so, could that be one of our problems?

There are a myriad of reasons universities/colleges face challenges raising money and all are exclusive to that particular institution. Some common traits that benefits a Foundation are alumni awareness,alumni engagement, pride and belief in the university to name a few. That starts with a well developed, active Alumni Association. That's one of the monikers of institutional preparedness. The old saying is first you "Friend-raise then you Fund-raise".

 

[WOZ]

There are a myriad of reasons universities/colleges face challenges raising money and all are exclusive to that particular institution. Some common traits that benefits a Foundation are alumni awareness,alumni engagement, pride and belief in the university to name a few. That starts with a well developed, active Alumni Association. That's one of the monikers of institutional preparedness. The old saying is first you "Friend-raise then you Fund-raise".

I suppose it all starts with students staying on campus and attending, or participating, in the various games, clubs, organizations, etc, instead of going home on weekends. Then, staying for a full four years.

 

[shootingsycamore]

I suppose it all starts with students staying on campus and attending, or participating, in the various games, clubs, organizations, etc, instead of going home on weekends. Then, staying for a full four years.

With the Alumni Affairs Office now under the Department of University Engagement and not the Foundation, they might have the resources to build a viable Alumni Association. However it will take quite some time and a strong effort. It's been difficult fitting the 35,000 Indianapolis area alumni into the Stacked Pickle in Carmel for a viewing party.

 

[shootingsycamore]

Thanks CD. Do you think we've had a lot of turnover in recent years in the Endowment Office? If so, could that be one of our problems?

Anyone interested in the fiscal health of the ISU Foundation or any other non profit should visit the website Guidestar. It has all the 501c3 non profits in the US( including the Clinton Foundation). This is available to the public without a fee. Go to Indiana State Univ. Foundation, then PDF financials and to the IRS 990 filing(s). Compare the information to fellow MVC schools.