Post on 14-Feb-2016
description
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
Discussion Questions 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
Joint 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.”
Joint Fundraising Efforts 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.”
Joint Fundraising Efforts
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
Joint Fundraising Efforts 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.”
Discussion Questions 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
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
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
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
0
2
4
6
Student affairs staff provide support for campus-wide fundraising efforts by attending development office
programs
Discussion Questions 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
Discussion Questions 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
egc83@msstate.edu
Dr. April Heiselt
ah384@msstate.edu