Innovator Vol. 36 No. 1 - Winter 06: The M Difference
Return to contents Development Notes
First Faculty/Staff Matching Campaign a Signal Success
How would you feel if your employer approached you with an outstretched hand asking for a present? What might seem like an odd role-reversal was welcomed by faculty and staff at the School of Education.
Of course, faculty and staff “give” their best to the School every day in classrooms, offices, and cooperating schools. And it was this solid commitment to our mission that helped inspire a faculty and staff giving campaign.
This year, for the first year in recent memory, faculty and staff were urged to dig a little deeper and assist the School during these difficult financial times. In order to provide some extra incentive, we would match these gifts and the first order of business was to secure funds to do the matching.
A very special group of faculty and staff were asked to look beyond their own personal interests at the School to create a pool of funds that would serve to motivate and challenge their colleagues. Through their generosity, the Faculty / Staff Matching Fund grew to $10,050 with an average gift of just over $700.
Faculty and staff responded to the challenge immediately and enthusiastically! Within a month and a half the matching funds were used, but contributions continued to come in. At press time, the matching fund has been exhausted and the School’s faculty and staff have given more than $22,000.
It’s important to look at how this effort has boosted giving. In the last few years, we averaged about 15 donors from current faculty and staff members with total giving about $4,000 for an average gift of $266. This year we have contributions from 66 current faculty and staff members for a grand total of $22,465 in gifts for an average gift of $340. In all, 12 different funds at the School of Education benefited from gifts and matching funds.
This success encourages us to continue asking our “employees” to give and to continue offering the incentive a matching campaign provides. Of course, we wouldn’t say no if one of our alumni or friends of the School decided to step forward with a $10,000 gift to create the matching fund for next year!
Gifts from faculty and staff signal great dedication to the School and its mission and most especially so during difficult budget times. You have much to be proud of in your association with the School of Education.
Stephen G. Bates
Director of Advancement
Development
