2008 Woodie Awards
College will 'hit up' faculty, staff for donations
By: Amy Lieberman, Managing Editor
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: News
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Macalester's advancement office is now working to solicit donations from faculty and staff members as an ongoing project within the "silent phase" of the college's $150 million capital campaign, which will publicly launch next fall.
The college is not seeking a specific dollar amount from faculty and staff, but is focusing on drawing a high participation rate, said Kate Abbott, assistant vice president of advancement operations.
"We hope that people will give generously, but the important thing is to make sure we have campus people on board," she said. "The idea is that every employee can make an equal impact."
In the meantime, the advancement office is planning on sponsoring "cookies and coffee events," Abbot said, early next semester in each building across campus. The fundraising efforts will have a time limit, and will probably not extend past the two-month mark.
Abbot said the main goal is to "educate people on the importance of strong community giving" as well as sponsoring events, such as video presentations. The Advancement Office will not directly solicit donations from individual employees.
Abbott said high faculty and staff participation numbers might lead outside corporations and foundations to look more favorably upon the prospect of also contributing to the college. Attempting to draw internal community support before looking to outside sources for funding is a common tactic, she said, at different universities and colleges.
Professor Emeritus Jack Rossmann, the appointed faculty liaison for the project, emphasized the importance of having the support of a high percentage of faculty and staff.
"Alumni and friends of the college, some at least, will ask the question, well how are the faculty and staff feeling about the campaign?" he said. "And if we can say they are feeling wonderful about it, that is the way in which it becomes important in the larger campaign."
Along with Rossmann, the advancement office appointed Chaplain Lucy Forster-Smith and political science department coordinator Roxanne Fisher to serve as liaisons for salaried staff and hourly employees, respectively. They will work with the advancement office to foster communication between the administration and employees, while helping to plan the upcoming events.
The college is not seeking a specific dollar amount from faculty and staff, but is focusing on drawing a high participation rate, said Kate Abbott, assistant vice president of advancement operations.
"We hope that people will give generously, but the important thing is to make sure we have campus people on board," she said. "The idea is that every employee can make an equal impact."
In the meantime, the advancement office is planning on sponsoring "cookies and coffee events," Abbot said, early next semester in each building across campus. The fundraising efforts will have a time limit, and will probably not extend past the two-month mark.
Abbot said the main goal is to "educate people on the importance of strong community giving" as well as sponsoring events, such as video presentations. The Advancement Office will not directly solicit donations from individual employees.
Abbott said high faculty and staff participation numbers might lead outside corporations and foundations to look more favorably upon the prospect of also contributing to the college. Attempting to draw internal community support before looking to outside sources for funding is a common tactic, she said, at different universities and colleges.
Professor Emeritus Jack Rossmann, the appointed faculty liaison for the project, emphasized the importance of having the support of a high percentage of faculty and staff.
"Alumni and friends of the college, some at least, will ask the question, well how are the faculty and staff feeling about the campaign?" he said. "And if we can say they are feeling wonderful about it, that is the way in which it becomes important in the larger campaign."
Along with Rossmann, the advancement office appointed Chaplain Lucy Forster-Smith and political science department coordinator Roxanne Fisher to serve as liaisons for salaried staff and hourly employees, respectively. They will work with the advancement office to foster communication between the administration and employees, while helping to plan the upcoming events.
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