2008 Woodie Awards
Campaign strives for $500 million goal
Hodge hopes 'For Love and Honor' receives additional alumni support
Stephanie Wrobel
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: Campus
It's been five years, and so far Miami University's For Love and Honor Campaign has raised $281 million as of Aug. 28, according to Brad Bundy, associate vice president of university advancement.
The For Love and Honor Campaign, launched in 2002, is a fund-raising mission aimed at improving student financial aid, faculty learning opportunities and campus facilities.
Initially, the goal was to raise $350 million by end of 2007, however the university revamped this figure in September 2006 to $500 million, with the hopes of raising this amount by June 30, 2010.
According to Bundy, the change was made in order to take full advantage of the upcoming bicentennial event-giving alumni the opportunity to give back financially to Miami.
Bundy listed the university's current goals for this semester.
"Our big goal for fund raising is to be over $300 million by Dec. 31, 2007," Bundy said. "This was our original goal so we want to make sure we surpass that."
To achieve this, Bundy stressed the importance of alumni involvement.
"President (David) Hodge has also set a goal for us to increase alumni participation to record levels," Bundy said.
Currently, Bundy said the alumni contribution rate is 16.8 percent. Hodge, he said, would like to increase the figure to 18 percent this year, and eventually 25 percent within the next five years.
According to Bundy, the majority of the funding for the For Love and Honor Campaign comes from alumni-$175 million thus far.
Bundy also explained that $55 million comes from corporations and foundations, with the rest generally being donated by parents and friends of the university.
Miami continues push for endowments, professorships
Miami's endowment programÂ-which gives Miami faculty, staff, and retirees the opportunity to financially support the university-creates permanent funds that directly aid Miami's efforts to continue providing a quality college education to its students. The program requires a minimum contribution of $10,000 per individual over a 10-year period, with a subsequent $5,000 match from Miami.
Bundy stated that as of June 30, 2007, Miami's endowment program has received contributions totaling more than $400 million.
Hodge has continued to pledge his support of the endowment program, as well as the professorship campaign. He said he still wants to increase the number of endowment chairs from 40 to 100 within the next several years. By increasing the number of chairs, Hodge hopes to continue bringing quality professors to the Miami faculty. Another part of the For Love and Honor Campaign is simply placing importance on better supporting faculty.
Bundy explained that endowing a professorship costs $400,000 and for the first 20 people who donate $300,000 toward the program, Miami will match with a $100,000 donation.
Regional campaigns want to attract fund-raisers
Also, during the 2006-07 school year, Miami conducted several regional campaigns in Cincinnati, Columbus, Chicago and New York.
Bundy said one of the university's objectives is to grow a new base of volunteers throughout the country who would be willing to help with fund-raising goals.
These campaigns have since been extended to Washington D.C.
and Cleveland.
The university will conduct a northeastern Ohio regional gala Nov. 9 for all alumni and parents in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton area. Plans to hold a series of similar events in Washington D.C. this fall or winter are also in the works.
"There are many cities with a lot of our alumni, so we try to recruit six to 20 members per targeted city who will help us raise participation in the campaign," Bundy said.
Bundy said they hope to eventually focus on the top cities where the highest concentrations of Miami alumni live, in an attempt to attract more than 1,000 volunteers across the country.
To assist in the fund-raising efforts, Hodge also plans to travel more this academic year.
"I have been here one year and I now have a deeper knowledge and have developed more strategies for this campaign," Hodge said. "My goal this year is to travel to meet with potential donors twice a week."
Miami receives influx of large contributions
According to Bundy, several large contributions were made over the summer, which have had a big impact on the For Love and Honor Campaign.
Lova Riekert, class of 1931, donated $1.7 million, which went toward unrestricted funds.
Edna Kelley, a recently deceased friend of the university and former Hamilton native, gave $750,000 that went toward scholarships for students in the School of Fine Arts.
A donor whose name hasn't yet been made public by the university donated $1.8 million, which supported 15 various Miami scholarships, according to Bundy.
Finally, Hal Ebersole, class of 1942, contributed $700,000 to the Farmer School of Business.
Richard Nault, vice president of student affairs, commented that the campaign is all ready having a significant impact on student affairs, stating that their goal of raising $7 million has already been reached.
"Much of the money raised funded the new (Harry T.) Wilks Leadership Institute," Nault said. "These new leadership programs will touch student all across campus. We also received a gift from alumnus Cliff Alexander to endow our Greek affairs office. Miami now has the first Greek office in the country that is endowed, allowing us to expand our support for women and men in our fraternities and sororities. We've also started a new endowment to support gay and lesbian students on campus."
Nault explained these are only a few examples of the accomplishments the For Love and Honor Campaign has allowed the university to make.
"It means a great deal to me that so much of the results of the campaign so far directly affect students," he said.
As for the unmarked funds, Bundy stressed that they are titled as such due to the donors' wishes.
"Each year, a number of donors give unrestricted support," Bundy said. "They don't care what the money is used for and it becomes an unmarked fund."
Bundy said that the university has been able to use these gifts in a variety of ways, such as matching funds for the endowment program.
President Hodge maintained that donations often come in highs and lows, but pointed out that last year was a record year in giving, and that he expects this year to be yet another record breaker.
However, Bundy pointed out that certain times of year invoke greater gift giving than others.
"The last quarter of the calendar year tends to be the time period where gift giving is more advantageous and the university sees the most donations," Bundy said. "That time of year is around the corner, so we expect to see an increase then."
The university is now focusing on newer graduates as fund-raising sources, pointing out that these graduates make up the bulk of the base of alumni and that Miami is continually looking for ways to engage them, according to Bundy.
Susan Mosley-Howard, dean of students, expressed that the campaign is vitally important from her perspective as well.
"The Love and Honor Campaign is absolutely critical to enhancing campus life for students," Mosley-Howard said. "At Miami, we strive to create an excellent, vibrant and engaging living and learning environment for our students, and to do that we need resources to support academic and co-curricular programs, to hire and retain talented faculty and staff, and to provide a progressive educational infrastructure."
With all the current methods being utilized, Bundy remains confident that the university will reach its $500 million goal by 2010.
"Never before have I worked for a university whose alumni are as passionate about their alma mater and are as pleased with the experience they received here," Bundy said.
"When you have that level of satisfaction of a customer, we're hoping that will translate into a record level of giving by Miamians."
The For Love and Honor Campaign, launched in 2002, is a fund-raising mission aimed at improving student financial aid, faculty learning opportunities and campus facilities.
Initially, the goal was to raise $350 million by end of 2007, however the university revamped this figure in September 2006 to $500 million, with the hopes of raising this amount by June 30, 2010.
According to Bundy, the change was made in order to take full advantage of the upcoming bicentennial event-giving alumni the opportunity to give back financially to Miami.
Bundy listed the university's current goals for this semester.
"Our big goal for fund raising is to be over $300 million by Dec. 31, 2007," Bundy said. "This was our original goal so we want to make sure we surpass that."
To achieve this, Bundy stressed the importance of alumni involvement.
"President (David) Hodge has also set a goal for us to increase alumni participation to record levels," Bundy said.
Currently, Bundy said the alumni contribution rate is 16.8 percent. Hodge, he said, would like to increase the figure to 18 percent this year, and eventually 25 percent within the next five years.
According to Bundy, the majority of the funding for the For Love and Honor Campaign comes from alumni-$175 million thus far.
Bundy also explained that $55 million comes from corporations and foundations, with the rest generally being donated by parents and friends of the university.
Miami continues push for endowments, professorships
Miami's endowment programÂ-which gives Miami faculty, staff, and retirees the opportunity to financially support the university-creates permanent funds that directly aid Miami's efforts to continue providing a quality college education to its students. The program requires a minimum contribution of $10,000 per individual over a 10-year period, with a subsequent $5,000 match from Miami.
Bundy stated that as of June 30, 2007, Miami's endowment program has received contributions totaling more than $400 million.
Hodge has continued to pledge his support of the endowment program, as well as the professorship campaign. He said he still wants to increase the number of endowment chairs from 40 to 100 within the next several years. By increasing the number of chairs, Hodge hopes to continue bringing quality professors to the Miami faculty. Another part of the For Love and Honor Campaign is simply placing importance on better supporting faculty.
Bundy explained that endowing a professorship costs $400,000 and for the first 20 people who donate $300,000 toward the program, Miami will match with a $100,000 donation.
Regional campaigns want to attract fund-raisers
Also, during the 2006-07 school year, Miami conducted several regional campaigns in Cincinnati, Columbus, Chicago and New York.
Bundy said one of the university's objectives is to grow a new base of volunteers throughout the country who would be willing to help with fund-raising goals.
These campaigns have since been extended to Washington D.C.
and Cleveland.
The university will conduct a northeastern Ohio regional gala Nov. 9 for all alumni and parents in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton area. Plans to hold a series of similar events in Washington D.C. this fall or winter are also in the works.
"There are many cities with a lot of our alumni, so we try to recruit six to 20 members per targeted city who will help us raise participation in the campaign," Bundy said.
Bundy said they hope to eventually focus on the top cities where the highest concentrations of Miami alumni live, in an attempt to attract more than 1,000 volunteers across the country.
To assist in the fund-raising efforts, Hodge also plans to travel more this academic year.
"I have been here one year and I now have a deeper knowledge and have developed more strategies for this campaign," Hodge said. "My goal this year is to travel to meet with potential donors twice a week."
Miami receives influx of large contributions
According to Bundy, several large contributions were made over the summer, which have had a big impact on the For Love and Honor Campaign.
Lova Riekert, class of 1931, donated $1.7 million, which went toward unrestricted funds.
Edna Kelley, a recently deceased friend of the university and former Hamilton native, gave $750,000 that went toward scholarships for students in the School of Fine Arts.
A donor whose name hasn't yet been made public by the university donated $1.8 million, which supported 15 various Miami scholarships, according to Bundy.
Finally, Hal Ebersole, class of 1942, contributed $700,000 to the Farmer School of Business.
Richard Nault, vice president of student affairs, commented that the campaign is all ready having a significant impact on student affairs, stating that their goal of raising $7 million has already been reached.
"Much of the money raised funded the new (Harry T.) Wilks Leadership Institute," Nault said. "These new leadership programs will touch student all across campus. We also received a gift from alumnus Cliff Alexander to endow our Greek affairs office. Miami now has the first Greek office in the country that is endowed, allowing us to expand our support for women and men in our fraternities and sororities. We've also started a new endowment to support gay and lesbian students on campus."
Nault explained these are only a few examples of the accomplishments the For Love and Honor Campaign has allowed the university to make.
"It means a great deal to me that so much of the results of the campaign so far directly affect students," he said.
As for the unmarked funds, Bundy stressed that they are titled as such due to the donors' wishes.
"Each year, a number of donors give unrestricted support," Bundy said. "They don't care what the money is used for and it becomes an unmarked fund."
Bundy said that the university has been able to use these gifts in a variety of ways, such as matching funds for the endowment program.
President Hodge maintained that donations often come in highs and lows, but pointed out that last year was a record year in giving, and that he expects this year to be yet another record breaker.
However, Bundy pointed out that certain times of year invoke greater gift giving than others.
"The last quarter of the calendar year tends to be the time period where gift giving is more advantageous and the university sees the most donations," Bundy said. "That time of year is around the corner, so we expect to see an increase then."
The university is now focusing on newer graduates as fund-raising sources, pointing out that these graduates make up the bulk of the base of alumni and that Miami is continually looking for ways to engage them, according to Bundy.
Susan Mosley-Howard, dean of students, expressed that the campaign is vitally important from her perspective as well.
"The Love and Honor Campaign is absolutely critical to enhancing campus life for students," Mosley-Howard said. "At Miami, we strive to create an excellent, vibrant and engaging living and learning environment for our students, and to do that we need resources to support academic and co-curricular programs, to hire and retain talented faculty and staff, and to provide a progressive educational infrastructure."
With all the current methods being utilized, Bundy remains confident that the university will reach its $500 million goal by 2010.
"Never before have I worked for a university whose alumni are as passionate about their alma mater and are as pleased with the experience they received here," Bundy said.
"When you have that level of satisfaction of a customer, we're hoping that will translate into a record level of giving by Miamians."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Caroline C.
posted 9/06/07 @ 11:46 AM EST
Please! Am I the only one who can read a calender? They extended the campaign because it was failing. They were going to fall far short of the 350 million dollar goal this year. (Continued…)
Miami Prof
posted 9/06/07 @ 1:56 PM EST
I agree fully with the above statement, and I blame this university's smug sense of superiority. Every year, we seem to be falling further and further behind Ohio State, yet our alumni, students and administrators insist on pretending that we're some version of Cal Berkeley and Stanford rolled into one. (Continued…)
Joe S
posted 12/11/07 @ 5:40 PM EST
...And their school is total crap.
Look at their endowment "Miami Prof." Ours has obviously raised more over time. Sure, they might be able to raise that one time; but over the long-haul, MU is still the best at fund raising. (Continued…)
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