Bridge Builders Creating Collaborations Between Student Affairs and Fundraising Emilie Cravens Dr....

Bridge BuildersCreating Collaborations Between Student Affairs and Fundraising

Emilie CravensDr. April Heiselt

Mississippi State University2012 SACSA Conference – Memphis, TN

Introductions

Presenters: Emilie Cravens- Masters student in the Department of Counseling and

Educational Psychology at Mississippi State University working toward a degree in Counselor Education with an emphasis in Student Affairs.

Dr. April Heiselt- Associate Professor in the Counseling and Educational Psychology Department at Mississippi State University. Dr. Heiselt's teaching emphasis is in Student Affairs in Higher Education.

Audience Members: Tell us about yourselves. What are you hoping to learn from our

presentation today?

Student Affairs Fundraising Efforts

How many of you know the development plan for Student Affairs on your campus?

How many of you assist with these efforts?

How many of you know the fundraising goals for your Department of Student Affairs?

Research Design

Population 13 Student Affairs Development Officers at the public institutions

in the Southeastern Conference (SEC)

Mixed Methods Data Collection Quantitative – 33 question Internet survey via SurveyMonkey

25 questions regarding the relationship and success of fundraising for the Department of Student Affairs

Qualitative – open-ended survey questions, document analysis IRB approved

Development and Student Affairs Website Review Questions

Reviewed the websites of 13 public institutions looking for the following

Was the development officer clearly identifiable?

Was the contact information correct for the development offices?

Did the Student Affairs Department website offer any information on how to give to student affairs departments?

Development and Student Affairs Website Review Process

Searched websites for clearest path to donate to student affairs programs via both Foundation and Student Affairs’ websites

Contacted University Foundation main line when information was unclear

Read any information regarding donating to Student Affairs’ Departments

Development and Student Affairs Website Review Results

Pros Student Affairs sites with

donation tabs

Clearly identifiable Student Affairs Development Officer

PDF Case statements or outlines of giving opportunities

Cons No identifiable Development

Officer

Unclear or incorrect information on how or where to give

No knowledge or information on student affairs giving opportunities

Website example

Discussion Questions

How do you feel your department strategically uses the Student Affairs web site to better fundraising efforts?

What are the challenges (if any)?

How are you assessing the success of these efforts?

Survey Participants

61% participation (n=8)

Demographics Race: 87.5% White; 12.5% Black or African-American Age: 37.5% 31-35 years old, 12.5% 36-40 years old, 12.5% 52-56

years old, and 12.5% 57-64 years old

Years at higher education development 62.5% had 4-6 years of experience

Years in at current institution 50% 1-3 years; 25% 4-6 years

Survey Results

Assignment to Student Affairs Development

100% of respondents said that they were the development officer specifically assigned to student affairs

67.5% indicated others assisted in fundraising for Student Affairs

7 respondents reported they are assigned full-time, 1 indicated ¾ time allocated to fundraising to student affairs

Reported Funding Sources

By rank order participants identified the following:

1. Private and individual donations was the highest source of funding

2. Grants from corporations, private foundations or individuals

3. Grants from federal, state, or local governments

4. No external funding

5. “Other” funding sources ranked fifth

Communication Between Development Officers and Student Affairs

100% agreed or strongly agreed the Development office and student affairs communicated effectively

50% agreed there are challenges regarding control of fundraising efforts

25% disagreed that the two departments have a high level of trust for each other

Communication Between Development Officers and Student Affairs

Strongly Agree25%

Agree37.5%

Disagree37.5%

The development and student affairs offices have ade-quate knowledge about each other's plans regarding rais-

ing external funds for the student affairs division


How is the overall communication with the development office on your campus?

What are some examples of successful communication?

Any challenges you have experienced?

Joint Fundraising Efforts

87.5% of development officers reported that student affairs and development offices should share fundraising responsibilities

12.5% of development officers reported development officers should have sole responsibility of fundraising efforts


100% agreed or strongly agreed that Student affairs offices provided opportunities for development officers to interact with current students. “Development officers are given regular access to students. They

are invited to strategic student events throughout the year.” Students act as “Foundation Ambassadors” “The Student Government allows us to participate in their

meetings.” “We have scholarship recipients meet with the donor and DO

[Development Officer]each year.”


100% agreed or strongly agreed that the student affairs office was supportive when the development office raises funds for student affairs programs/activities. “Development office is provided with materials and the opportunity to

interact with students.”

12.5% strongly agreed and 75% agreed that student affairs and development offices collaborated to provide current students with opportunities to participate in institutional giving. Student giving campaigns Foundation Ambassadors

Joint Fundraising Efforts 75% agreed that student affairs staff encouraged efforts by the

development staff to raise funds for their programs and services. “[Student Affairs] provides needed materials and/or students to

meet with potential donors.

96% agreed or strongly agreed that the student affairs office routinely shared important fundraising information with the development office. “I am employed by Student Affairs but have regular meetings with

staff in the Development Office.”


Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

0

2

4

6

When working to raise funds for student affairs programs/activities, it is common for both offices to share related fundraising responsibilities


What feedback or suggestions do you have for Student Affairs staff to better fundraising efforts for the Student Affairs division?

“All staff need to understand the fundraising priorities of the division, particularly if a capital campaign in underway. Contact with donors needs to be limited to particular staff so that the message that is being presented in consistent and timely.”


How do your departments partner with the development office to aid fundraising efforts?

What information would you like from the development office to help you better fundraising efforts for student affairs?

What types of fundraising opportunities do your departments offer undergraduate students?

Participation in Fundraising Efforts

37.5% disagreed that student affairs staff provided support for campus-wide fundraising efforts by providing staffing support at development office programs.

37.5% disagreed that the development office partners with student affairs programs to promote institutional giving to undergraduate students.

Invitations to Development Officers to Participate


0

2

4

6

The development office receives invitations to participate in campus events, i.e. Orientation, Parent Service Events

Student Affairs Participation in Development Office Events


0

2

4

6

Student affairs staff provide support for campus-wide fundraising efforts by attending development office

programs


What types of development events do you attend?

Which student affairs events are attended most by your campus development officers?

Overall Evaluation

Excellent25%

Good37.5%

Fair25%

Poor12.5%

Rate your institution’s overall success at raising funds for student affairs programs/activities during the past year

Implications

Is it possible to effectivelyfundraise for student affairsdivisions with the currentstaffing arrangements?

Implications

What can we as student affairs professions do to better assist fundraising efforts? Track student involvement and activities Attend and assist development professionals at development

office produced fundraising events Better foster and promote a culture of institutional giving to

undergraduate students Capitalize on our ability to build relationships with students post

graduation


How do you see the future of fundraising in student affairs?

What steps do you feel student affairs professionals should take to assist in fundraising efforts?

Questions?

Contact Information

Emilie Cravens

[email protected]

Dr. April Heiselt

[email protected]

Bridge Builders Creating Collaborations Between Student Affairs and Fundraising Emilie Cravens Dr....

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