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History

 

The Grand Destiny Campaign was a transformational success. The College of Engineering established 187 new endowments – an increase of 111% – with most new endowments supporting undergraduate and graduate students. In FY 02/03, the last year of the campaign, the College’s faculty and staff managed over $4M in endowment income, handled 12,351 individual receipts providing $14.8M in gifts and mailed over 10,000 thank you letters. The Stewardship Initiative was conceived by the College of Engineering to manage the success of the Grand Destiny Campaign, to accommodate the College’s future philanthropic success, and to serve the range of stewardship activities within Engineering. The Initiative will provide Engineering departments the tools and processes needed to more efficiently, more effectively, and more easily, continue to care for and protect our philanthropic legacy.

The Stewardship Initiative was conceived by the College of Engineering to achieve three goals: (1) to manage the success of the Grand Destiny Campaign, (2) to accommodate the College’s future philanthropic success, and (3) to serve the range of stewardship activities within Engineering. We acknowledged that our endowment processes, practices and tools had not kept pace with the growth of our endowments and gifts.

College Work Group

The College work group first met in April 2003. The 14 member group represented departments, administrative units, University offices and included faculty and staff involved in endowment management – particularly endowed scholarships and fellowships. During two multi-hour meetings, members described practices, demonstrated systems, and revealed databases. Seven core problems were identified.

Core Problems

  • Pre-campaign processes inadequate for post-campaign success
  • Restricted access to key information
  • Ineffective organization of information
  • Lack of stewardship and development education and training
  • Multiple stewardship standards
  • Stewardship responsibility at varying levels of College administration
  • Failure to recognize that stewardship occurs most frequently and is most effective at the department level.

The Solution – College of Engineering Stewardship Initiative

Components of the College of Engineering Stewardship Initiative

  1. Endowment Management and Gift Stewardship System
  2. Stewardship Council
  3. Education

University Work Group

Walt Beatty, Manager Network and Information Systems

College of Engineering

 

Mary Lee Carns, Development Assistant

College of Engineering

Co-Coordinator, COE Stewardship Initiative

 

Lori Ebert, Assistant Director of Donor Relations
Office of Development and Alumni Relations

Co-Coordinator, COE Stewardship Initiative

 

Abby Hopkins, Development Assistant

College of Agricultural Sciences

Carol Lewis, Student Aid Coordinator
Office of Enrollment and Management

Kevin Musick, Associate Director of Donor Relations and Special Events
Office of University Development

Jay Sonti, Financial Analyst
University Office of Loans and Scholarships