by Vern Snyder, UT Vice President for Institutional Advancement
The competition for philanthropic dollars has increased dramatically, given the current economic conditions. In the United States, there is one nonprofit organization for every 250 people. In northwest Ohio alone, more than 850 nonprofits exist. Each one believes and will share with you why it is worthy of your support.
What separates successful nonprofits from those that are less successful? There are, I believe, four critical activities:
Stewardship of gifts received
Frequent communication with donors and prospective donors
Cost-effectiveness of fundraising operations
Highest standards of ethical and professional conduct
The current economic climate has played havoc with investments, philanthropy and overall confidence in the system. Rather than wringing our hands or hunkering down until the storm passes, the UT Advancement Office has chosen to be proactive by reaching out to our donors to answer their questions, report on the progress of the use of their gifts and, most important, continue open communication.Our development officers are working diligently, talking with donors about their current gifts and letting them know about the exciting opportunities ahead, answering their questions, and making certain that each donor knows the status of his or her endowment and how these gifts are making a difference to our students and programs.
The UT Foundation also has been very proactive advising our donors about the status of their endowments and providing reports and updates as requested. The UT Foundation Investment Committee has been vigilant in monitoring the investment of funds, and prudent in their actions. All of this aims to ensure that funds are available when needed.
Seldom mentioned, but as important, are strategies that reduce the cost of fundraising and increase efficiency. Our trips are designed in concert with Alumni Association events, thus enabling us to maximize donor and prospect contacts in each area, and to minimize expenses. Our direct mail and telemarketing programs use the flexibility of our database to segment solicitations and maximize contacts and caller effectiveness through automatic dialing. We are proud that for every dime expended on fundraising, we give back a dollar. That is an excellent return on investment, and outperforms local and national benchmarks.
Our Advancement, Development, Alumni Relations, and Special Events staffs, as well as the staff of the Foundation, are committed to the highest standards of professionalism. More important, each individual is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards. That dedication shows through in every contact with every donor, prospective donor, and alumnus of our University of Toledo.
It’s all about confidence. Confidence and trust in your advancement professional, The University of Toledo and its people and programs. Your support makes the difference. We treasure that support, and all of us are dedicated to maintaining that support and trust.
Thank you for all you do.