VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK€¦ · I want to thank you for joining us in our campaign to change lives. Next...

VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER FROM FIU PRESIDENT MARK B. ROSENBERG

LETTER FROM FIU FOUNDATION BOARD CHAIR RICHARD BRILLIANT ‘93

THE CAMPAIGN FOR FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

WHY GIVING MATTERS: THE IMPACT OF PHILANTHROPY AT FIU

FIU BY THE NUMBERS

MOBILIZING OUR VOLUNTEERS: EQUIPPING YOU FOR SUCCESS

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

TOOLS FOR ENGAGEMENT

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

TALKING POINTS

COMMUNICATION TEMPLATES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

EXAMPLES OF CAMPAIGN FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

TOGETHER, WE WILL IMPACT THE FUTURE

NEXT HORIZON CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER TOOLKIT WEBSITE

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LETTER FROM FIU PRESIDENT MARK B. ROSENBERG Dear Volunteer Leader,On behalf of Florida International University and the FIU Foundation, I want to thank you for joining us in our campaign to change lives. Next Horizon, the $750 million campaign for FIU, will change the lives of hardworking students. It will transform our communities through the people we serve. It will enhance the vitality of our city. And it will improve the health of our planet.

This campaign is about big ideas aligned with two pillars―student success and research preeminence. As a leadership volunteer, your role will be to find people who care about big ideas―donors who want to help FIU solve some of the world’s most challenging problems, and donors who are passionate about programs that enable students and communities to flourish. Together, we will make them champions for our FIU.

As we enter the public phase of the largest campaign in FIU history, I want you to know that we cannot do it without you. If we are to be successful in achieving our goal to raise $750 million for scholarships, research, state-of-the-art programs and opportunities for our students, our faculty, and the lives they touch and transform, we need you. We need your contacts and connections, your expertise and enthusiasm. We need you to tell the FIU story and extend the invitation to others to engage and invest with us.

You are one of our trusted advisors, and your leadership is vital to our success. I charge you to take a leadership role in the campaign for our great university that is the Next Horizon in higher education – what the rest of the country will look like in 25 years. Together, we will carry the torch for FIU as we advance toward the future, and the Next Horizon.

Sincerely,

Mark B. RosenbergPresident

LETTER FROM FIU FOUNDATION BOARD CHAIR RICHARD BRILLIANT ’93 Dear Fellow Volunteers, In just a little over 50 years, FIU has become one of the top 100 young universities in the world. FIU is #1 in the country in awarding bachelor’s degrees to Hispanics and minorities and the top producer of Hispanic engineers in a future majority-minority nation. Our young university is leading the way in effectively educating the student of the future.

FIU is also #6 in the nation in producing important research while also promoting upward social mobility among students. We are one of less than 3% of universities in the nation to be classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R1 for highest research activity.

This is our FIU―a formidable force in higher education and a force for the greater good. FIU knows well that with capacity comes an even greater responsibility to achieve the extraordinary for those FIU can help and serve. The university’s vision to do even more is what powers its Next Horizon campaign, and it is what compelled me to accept President Rosenberg’s charge to help FIU realize that vision.

I want to thank you, my fellow leadership volunteers, for accepting this charge with me. Together, we will secure FIU’s role as a Next Horizon university. To guide us in this work, we have prepared this Volunteer Handbook. I hope that you will take the time to review it. This handbook will arm you with information about FIU, the campaign, and giving; it will equip you with strategies and soundbites for effective donor engagement; and it will guide our work through the campaign’s public phase, helping our team stay the course and converge upon our Next Horizon goals.

We all have important work to do. Thank you for being a member of our campaign team.

Sincerely,

Richard Brilliant ’93FIU Foundation Board Chair

VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK 21 FIU NEXT HORIZON CAMPAIGN

THE CAMPAIGN FOR FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

FIU DEMONSTRATES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE WORLDS AHEAD by taking on local and global challenges with serious investments in bold solutions. Our unique position geographically, culturally, and academically creates distinct advantages for FIU―empowering us to lead the way in student success and research, with incredible scale and reach. FIU’s local roots and commitment to community deepen our impact―transforming the lives of people and driving economic prosperity.

The Next Horizon breaks new ground as Florida International University’s first $750 million comprehensive campaign. The Next Horizon will showcase the trailblazing achievements of FIU while raising funds for future-forward initiatives. This campaign is a multiyear effort that will enter its public phase on January 26, 2019. The Next Horizon campaign offers unprecedented opportunities and obligations to impact our community more deeply, and to lead more boldly in areas of teaching, research, entrepreneurship, and public policy.

WHAT THE NEXT HORIZON WILL FUND FIU’s Next Horizon builds on the cutting-edge research, world-class programs, innovation, and 21st-century teaching that has made FIU a leading public research institution. The initiatives below represent our campaign objectives for funding the next wave of breakthrough achievements.

INCREASE SCHOLARSHIPS AND STUDENT SUPPORTAt FIU, every scholarship dollar is transformational. Financial aid plays a major role for students choosing FIU, and as little as $2,000 is often the difference between graduating or dropping out. Yet finances are only one factor, which is why we are investing in comprehensive programs dedicated to maximizing our students’ potential from the beginning, through enrollment, and beyond.

OPTIMIZE 21ST-CENTURY TEACHINGWe are transforming teaching practices in gateway courses and the way entire disciplines are taught. We are stimulating faculty innovation in teaching, engaging students as teaching consultants, and optimizing learning with technology. We practice evidence-based, learning-centered, and culturally responsive teaching that is tailored to the next generation of changemakers.

ADVANCE A VIBRANT, HEALTHY MIAMIFIU is key to the cultural radiance of this city and its health and well-being. This includes FIU’s leadership in museums, the performing arts, and arts education, with several cultural institutions in Miami and the innovative College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts (CARTA). And FIU programs like the Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELP (Health Education Learning Program), FIU Embrace, and the Center for Children and Families directly support wellness in our community.

ACCELERATE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERIESOur research profile has been rising at a remarkable rate, elevating FIU to the Carnegie Foundation’s highest level―Research 1: Highest Research Activity―which less than 3% of our nation’s universities can claim. Our preeminent programs represent the largest multidisciplinary research undertakings at FIU. We have a multitude of other laboratories and initiatives at FIU that are catalyzing learning and innovation.

ESCALATE DISCOVERY TO ENTERPRISEEvery year, we generate nearly $9 billion in economic impact through patents, startups, and university business activity. We are bringing ideas―and jobs―to the marketplace in Miami and around the world. We plan to increase the number of PhD degrees we award and postdoctoral fellows we recruit, broadening our research enterprise and escalating commercialization, today and into the future.

KEY CAMPAIGN DATES THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018: Next Horizon Campaign Volunteer Leadership Summit

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2019: Next Horizon Campaign Kickoff Celebration

BEGINNING IN MARCH 2019: Next Horizon Campaign External “Roadshows” (dates and cities to be announced)

Please refer to the Calendar of Events in the online Next Horizon Campaign Volunteer Toolkit at NHToolkit.FIU.edu for a more complete list of dates.

3 FIU NEXT HORIZON CAMPAIGN

Philanthropy provides the margin of excellence that allows us to dream big and make those dreams come true. GROWTH IN STUDENT SUPPORT: Over the last five years, philanthropy has allowed us to disburse more than $32 million in scholarship funds, impacting more than 8,000 students! Between 2016-17 and 2017-18, we more than doubled the number of students awarded scholarships: from 1,223 to 3,288!

INCREASED STATE MATCH FOR FIRST-GENERATION SCHOLARSHIP GIFTS: For academic year 2018-19, the Florida Legislature increased the amount it will match private donations for first-generation scholarships, from a dollar-for-dollar match to two dollars for every eligible dollar. These funds help students move toward timely graduation and improve FIU’s performance across several key metrics.

MORE PERFORMANCE FUNDING: Philanthropy drives performance, which leads to increased state funding. FIU is ranked #2 in the state university system for gains in the Florida Board of Governors’ performance metrics, increasing state funding for FIU by $12.5 million for 2018-19! The impact of philanthropy is evident in these gains―doubled scholarship support reduces the cost of a bachelor’s degree (a key metric), and investments in scholarships that promote retention and timely graduation help to improve our metrics.

Targeted scholarship programs can help FIU perform even better. For example, merit scholarships help attract Honors College students to FIU, and their four-times-higher retention rates and timely graduation rates improve the metrics in those colleges where they are completing their degrees. Meeting financial need to help students graduate in four years via just-in-time completion scholarships or emergency assistance scholarships will also improve performance across key metrics.

ENDOWMENTS MORE THAN DOUBLED: Since the start of the Next Horizon capital campaign in 2009, 144 new endowments have been pledged and funded through philanthropic gifts, and the value of FIU’s endowments has more than doubled. In 2017-18, 35 new endowments were pledged with a value of over $7.2 million ($7,274,000). Endowments support faculty chairs, scholarships, academic and student support programs, book funds, and leadership programs, ensuring FIU’s future by providing funds year in and year out while other support ebbs and flows.

VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK 6

WHY GIVING MATTERS: THE IMPACT OF PHILANTHROPY AT FIU

PRIVATELY FUNDED RESEARCH: Global FinPrint is the world’s first and largest survey of reef sharks and rays around the world led by FIU researchers in collaboration with three Australian universities. The researchers monitor species’ abundance and distribution, hoping to fill critical data gaps and guide conservation strategies. With core funding from Paul G. Allen Philanthropies, the survey achieved its initial goal of surveying 216 reefs in year two and expanded its goal to 400 reefs. This is just one example of the many big ideas at FIU. Throughout our colleges and units, groundbreaking research is occurring at unprecedented levels.

PHILANTHROPY CREATES PROGRAMS TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS: The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine was founded, in large part, through private philanthropy. Dr. Herbert Wertheim’s gift, then the largest cash donation in FIU history, launched a new medical school and led to millions in state and private funding, as well as research funding. The medical college was established to provide our community with greater access to affordable medical education and to address the national shortage of physicians.

Philanthropy also supports the Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELP, the service-learning and community outreach component of the medical school curriculum. It teaches medical students and other health professionals social accountability as they address the social determinants of health in our underserved communities.


As Miami's first and only public research university, offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its service to the academic and local community. Started on an abandoned airfield, it has grown to be one of the largest universities in the country. FIU is committed to high-quality teaching, state-of-the-art research and creative activity, and collaborative engagement with our local and global communities.

RANKINGS

#1 International Business undergraduate program in Florida, with 18 programs in the Top 100 of the U.S. News & World Report’s Best College Rankings

#1 Law school bar passage rate in Florida. FIU Law graduates consistently earn the highest bar passage rate of any of Florida’s 11 law schools.

#1 In the U.S. for awarding bachelor’s and master’s degrees to Hispanic students and a national leader in granting STEM degrees to minorities

#2 Among Florida public universities in the Florida Board of Governors’ 2018 performance metrics, with significant improvements in four-year graduation rate, cost to students, second-year retention rate, and issuance of bachelor’s degrees without excess hours

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) selected FIU to join a small group of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded “Frontier Set” universities—those committed to significantly increasing student access and success, and eliminating racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in college attainment.

#1 On the Social Mobility Index in Florida among schools that are both Carnegie Foundation-designated Research 1 universities and Ashoka Changemaker Campuses

RESEARCH

RESEARCH 1 CARNEGIE FOUNDATION CLASSIFICATION: R1 Doctoral University – Highest Research Activity

$177+ MILLION Total research expenditures in FY 2016-17

200+ Postdoctoral fellows

26 Among U.S. public universities and #61 in the world in patent production

FINANCES

$209.3 MILLION Endowment (as of August 31, 2018)

UNIVERSITY OUTFLOWS (2018-19 Operating Budget):

REVENUES:

$1.56 BILLION EXPENDITURES:

$1.52 BILLION * Details are available at OFP.FIU.edu/University-Financial-Performance/

Current as of November 2018

FIU AT A GLANCE

FALL 2018 FRESHMAN PROFILE

4.1 Average high school GPA

1,257 Average SAT score

87.27% Minority students

TUITION (2018-19)*

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

RESIDENT:

$3,084/TERMNONRESIDENT:

$9,283/TERMGRADUATE STUDENTS

RESIDENT:

$4,101/TERMNONRESIDENT:

$9,015/TERM* Full-time estimated cost of attendance is based on 15 credits for undergraduate students and 9 credits for graduate students.

* See the online Next Horizon Campaign Volunteer Toolkit at NHToolkit.FIU.edu for an expanded list of College and Unit highlights.

FIU BY THE NUMBERS

1972 FIU opens its doors

5 Campuses, including one in Tianjin, China

11 Colleges and Schools at FIU, including Medicine and Law

266 Degree programs

96% Of faculty hold doctoral degrees or

highest degree attainable in their fields

56,000+ Students enrolled

34,694Full-time

23,370Part-time

6,521Out of state

215,000+ Alumni, more than 195,000 of whom live

and work locally

18 Sports


FALL 2018


YOUR ROLE, FROM THE INSIDE OUTAs the university enters the public phase of the campaign, our volunteers will move into position as ambassadors, advocates, and makers of champions for FIU. The tasks that volunteers will undertake will be varied and can include things like sharing personal insights and talking about why you give to FIU, helping to build relationships with alumni and friends, making introductions, hosting small events and meetings, and helping personal and professional contacts learn more about FIU. Because campaigns are a team effort, FIU leadership and development professionals will work closely with you behind the scenes and on the front lines to make this campaign a success.

YOUR ROLE WITHIN FIU

• Learn about the campaign objectives and the big ideas that the campaign seeks to elevate.

• Become familiar with FIU’s funding priorities and those of your college or unit.

• Participate regularly in your college, unit, or department advisory council meetings.

• Communicate regularly with your dean and development professional.

• Identify people within your spheres of influence who may be interested in investing in FIU.

• Provide name and contact information for individuals, corporations, or foundations with whom you have connections.

• Share what you know about a prospect’s interests, philanthropy, employment, and other connections at prospect screenings.

MOBILIZING OUR VOLUNTEERS: EQUIPPING YOU FOR SUCCESS

In the build-up to the public launch of the Next Horizon campaign, leadership at FIU have been planning, strategizing, meeting with key players, and fine-tuning our messaging to ensure a successful campaign. Part of this planning has included forming a strong volunteer base and engaging you as a campaign leader. An active and dedicated volunteer, you have a vital role to play in helping us achieve campaign goals and secure the future of our FIU.



• Offer your insights on the best way to introduce and involve a prospect with FIU. Ideas include the following:

• Visiting FIU for a tour, attending a cultural event, seeing one of our museums, or coming to a game

• Joining university leadership and campaign volunteers in briefing sessions

• Engaging students in conversation

• Serving in a volunteer role at FIU

• Attend prospect review sessions and campaign events.

• Huddle with leadership and development professionals to discuss strategies for making the best case for support of FIU with top prospects and others identified by the team.

• Stay in contact with your development professional and share your progress. This will keep you up to date on prospect assignments and help us avoid communicating conflicting or repetitive messages to the prospect.

• Know the score―track our progress toward achieving campaign goals.

YOUR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY

• Tell others about your passion and support for the university, and your involvement in the campaign.

• Speak at or attend public events, as appropriate or if asked.

• Recruit new volunteers to the campaign team.

• Motivate prospects to attend FIU events, lectures, cultural activities, and tours as your guest. Invite them to gatherings in your home or at a public location.

• Engage prospects in a conversation and learn more about how FIU can help them achieve their philanthropic goals.

• Listen to what prospects have to say about FIU, and communicate their feedback to us.

• Help us cultivate relationships with prospects by writing them short notes, calling to say thank you for their support, and arranging to meet again.

• Let prospects know you support our solicitations, and join in team solicitations, as is appropriate or comfortable.

• Help write solicitation letters and follow up with phone calls, as appropriate.


OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU As a campaign volunteer, your goal is to help bring potential donors closer to the university. Our goal is to make sure you have the tools and support you need to be successful. While your role as a volunteer may seem challenging, you will have plenty of guidance and support from your dean and development professional, as well as from academic and university leadership, all of whom will be partnering with you to help you make and foster these connections.

While we are taking a team approach, we realize the strategy will be different for each prospective donor. The goal is to develop an effective strategy, find the best timing and situation, and include the right university representative to work with you. When it is time to ask for a gift, you will decide with your team who the appropriate person is to make the ask.

HELP FROM DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS

• Development professionals will collaborate with you on strategies for engaging prospects.

• Count on them to equip you for visits by sending you background information and other materials in advance.

• They will also visit prospects with you, as appropriate.

• From writing emails and letters to developing the right communications at the right time, from concept paper to full proposal, development professionals will extend communications support.

• Development professionals are here to introduce prospects to the faculty, students, staff, and university leadership who will engage them in our FIU.

* A complete directory of campaign and development leadership and professionals is available on the online Next Horizon Campaign Volunteer Toolkit at NHToolkit.FIU.edu.


Below are some ideas on ways to engage potential investors in conversations about FIU:1. IDENTIFY, ENGAGE, AND INVITE POTENTIAL INVESTORS.

A. Host a group of friends or colleagues, and start a discussion about their interests and affiliations. Share your interests and association with FIU, and tell them what excited you to get involved with us.

B. Present information on FIU at your company’s next committee or board meeting. Your development professional can help you prepare a strategic presentation with information on particular student programs and research initiatives that may resonate with those in your profession or industry.

C. Gather a group of friends or colleagues and bring them to campus for a university event or a tour of campus and any particular facilities related to their areas of interest, such as labs, student centers, or classrooms. Your development professional can propose ideas and customize campus visits for maximum effect.

2. CONNECT YOUR CONTACTS TO FIU LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM MEMBERS.

A. Invite your development professional to join a small gathering of friends or colleagues.

B. Let your development professional reach out and invite a prospective investor into a conversation with faculty or the dean about what employers, industry, and the public want from graduates or FIU.

3. MEET UP WITH ALUMNI, AND HELP US GAUGE THEIR INTEREST IN INVESTING IN FIU.

A. Ask them to give back to their alma mater―with an annual gift―an act that is critical to elevating the ranking and reputation of FIU and ensuring its financial future.

B. Attend alumni events or host your own. Engage Panthers in nostalgic conversations about their experiences at the university, and share what is new at FIU to help identify potential investors and their passions.

4. FOLLOW UP WITH US.

A. Whether your initial efforts generated a positive or tentative response, we need you to share your efforts and the results with your development professional.

TOOLS FOR ENGAGEMENT Fundraising is collaborative. Our development team members are experienced in all phases of the donor cycle―from identification and cultivation to solicitation and stewardship―but we rely on you, the volunteer leader, to help us take our campaign to your network and others we cannot reach without you.

There are as many ways to engage potential investors as there are people. As you embrace your role as an FIU advocate, it becomes natural to want to share the story of our FIU with everyone! With this handbook and the online Next Horizon Campaign Volunteer Toolkit as your resources, you can customize your approaches to potential investors, whether they take place in your company boardroom or your backyard.


CALENDAR OF EVENTS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018: Next Horizon Campaign Volunteer Leadership Summit

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018: President’s Holiday Celebration (7 pm to 10 pm, The Kampong)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2019: Next Horizon Campaign Kickoff Celebration

WEDNESDAY–SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20–24, 2019: Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival

BEGINNING IN MARCH 2019: Next Horizon Campaign External “Roadshows” (dates and cities to be announced)

MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019: Scholarship Breakfast

MONDAY-TUESDAY, APRIL 29-30, 2019: eMerge Americas

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2019: Alumni Annual Meeting

*Please refer to the Calendar of Events in the Next Horizon Campaign Volunteer Toolkit at NHToolkit.FIU.edu for a more complete list of events.

There are many opportunities to showcase FIU throughout the academic year. Your development professional is the best guide to finding the right opportunities to engage donors and potential investors, and the possibilities are endless. Below are a few key events for you to note:


WHY NOW?

Our world faces unprecedented challenges. In the coming years, finding solutions to issues like sea-level rise, cyber threats, environmental impacts on neurodegenerative diseases, and species extinction will be critical. Miami’s densely populated urban coastal area is at ground zero for rising seas and hurricanes. Our city is at the epicenter of some of the nation’s most critical health issues. Our fragile South Florida ecosystem is a major national point of study and concern. FIU has the expertise to tackle these issues, but we need partners to help us find the solutions that will make our community and other regions around the world healthier, more secure, and more resilient.

Our majority-minority student population represents the future of American public universities, and we strive to be both culturally responsive and forward-looking in teaching and learning. Our work in this area has led to us being selected by the American Association of Public and Land-grant Universities as one of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded “Frontier Set” of institutions committed to significantly increasing student access and success, and eliminating racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in college attainment. For students from all walks of life and all nations, we have a responsibility to provide access to excellence, and we must continue to do so.

The Next Horizon is our opportunity to explore new frontiers, answer bolder questions, and make an even bigger difference in the world.

WHY SUPPORT FIU, A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY?

FIU provides affordable access to an excellent education. The university is #1 on the Social Mobility Index in Florida among schools that are both Carnegie Foundation-designated Research 1 universities and Ashoka Changemaker Campuses. FIU has proven its value in fostering student success and advancing important research. It has demonstrated that giving to FIU is an investment with an impact.

TALKING POINTS

WHY SUPPORT RESEARCH FACULTY AND PROGRAMS?

To accelerate research and discovery, FIU needs the resources to attract and retain the best faculty in targeted areas, now and for years to come. Recruiting and retaining world-class faculty is critical to FIU’s future success. The best researchers and educators are sought after by top universities, because it is the faculty who shape a school’s reputation and global perception. Supporting our distinguished researchers and post-graduate scholars is paramount to the success of FIU. The philanthropic support FIU has received has helped us achieve the status of Research 1, the highest classification of Carnegie Foundation-ranked research universities. FIU was also ranked among the Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents, placing #61 in the world, with a total of 42 U.S. utility patents in 2017.

Research support often comes from federal grant awards, but federally funded non-defense research and development spending has been on a general decline since 2010. Where once it exceeded $160 billion, today it is below $140 billion (American Association for the Advancement of Science). It is more important now than ever for private philanthropy to bridge the funding gap.


WHY SUPPORT FACULTY AND TEACHING?

Teaching and learning today are vastly different than they were 20 years ago. Advances in brain science are uncovering evidence about how students learn and what makes knowledge stick. Technology has also transformed the classroom with tools that can significantly improve student engagement and learning. Through the campaign, we seek to secure funding for technology-enhanced classrooms and collaborative spaces. We also seek investments that will help faculty transform their teaching and their courses through investments in the Student Consultants of Teaching Program, Course Enhancement Grants for Faculty Innovation, and Course Design Institutes. The campaign will also attract funding to reward Faculty Excellence in Teaching and support Faculty Fellowships for special projects that advance their teaching, research, and leadership at FIU. Faculty travel and conference support can broaden our faculty’s exposure.

WHY SUPPORT STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS?

Choosing to study abroad for all or a portion of a semester can be one of the most enriching, fulfilling, and educationally stimulating experiences of a student’s life―one that is critical in a modern world, where a global economy requires a global education. These programs, however, come at a cost. Supporting Study Abroad Scholarships creates opportunities for students to participate in life-changing experiences without having to worry about the financial burden of travel and other expenses, as well as lost income if they work. Investing in a student’s education is already important, but allowing a student to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is a gift that is truly timeless.

WHY SUPPORT ENDOWED CHAIRS OR PROFESSORSHIPS FOR FACULTY?

Across America at top universities, exceptional research faculty are distinguished and supported by endowed professorships and chairs. This is the gold standard for attracting and retaining nationally and internationally recognized leaders in academic disciplines; high-achieving, early-career faculty sought after by other institutions; and other accomplished scholars in higher education. These positions also elevate the stature of a college or school and signal its expertise in particular areas of research, attracting additional research dollars, other faculty experts, and postdoctoral researchers. These positions also support research. Creating new knowledge, finding cures, and inventing novel devices are long-term enterprises, and endowed professorships, chairs, and research funds provide the means to support years of experimentation and creativity.

Endowed professorships and chairs ensure that a college or school will have well-qualified faculty in perpetuity. The income from endowments provides perpetual funding for professor and chair salaries and their teaching and research activities. As a result, these endowments help a university become more self-sufficient and achieve long-term stability. They also ensure that critical research programs continue into the future.

FIU has had a deep impact on the lives of people—as an anchor institution in our community, a driver of economic prosperity, and a solutions center for the world. Our research and innovation profile has been rising at a remarkable rate—attracting the best minds and emerging industries to FIU. We must continuously stay ahead of the curve to remain relevant, for our students and the world in which we live. Perpetual philanthropic support of an accomplished faculty who are ever on the leading edge in teaching, research, entrepreneurship, and public policy is critical to our mission.

WHY SUPPORT THE HUMANITIES?

The exploration of the humanities allows us to be creative, think critically, and it causes us to question the changes we see in the world. Humanities work hand in hand with the various Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields to identify and resolve some of the biggest challenges that face our civilization. STEM and the humanities are inextricably intertwined and need each other to progress. FIU’s work in the humanities reaches across many disciplines and outside the academy. Faculty and students engage in projects that bring humanists and natural scientists together, and they take their public history and public humanities skills into our community’s archives and museums. FIU has more than 3,500 humanities students in 21 humanities disciplines with over 150 humanities faculty.

WHY SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID?

The pursuit of education should never be forfeited due to a lack of funds. Research by the Brookings Institution shows that college completion improves upward mobility for individuals who come from families at the bottom of income distribution. Supporting scholarships and financial aid is also about supporting the community. The investments made in students create economic opportunity for families as well as community connections. The students who receive scholarships are grateful, and ultimately, many give back to the community that helped them achieve their dreams. Scholarship support is not only about helping students now; it is also about helping the students of the future, many of whom will live and work in Miami as they do now.

ELEVATOR SPEECH:

An elevator speech (sometimes called an elevator pitch) is your 60-second opportunity to introduce yourself and gain an “opening” or invitation to have a further conversation with someone—about FIU, of course. Designed to be very short (as if you were on an elevator with under a minute to engage with a fellow passenger), the elevator speech is all about being engaging and memorable. (Note: The listener does not have to actually remember you, but you need to create a “memorable moment” that can be recalled when you next contact them and remind them of your meeting.) The goal is not to secure a donation or close a gift during this brief encounter. It is merely to seek permission to engage with someone further—through a follow-up email, phone call, or meeting. The best elevator speeches are short, customized, sincere, and engaging. They end with a request to take the next step.

Try out the examples below and customize them to fit who you are, the event at which you may use them, or the person you anticipate encountering. Become comfortable with introducing yourself and talking about FIU.


COMMUNICATION TEMPLATES

To help you start a conversation with a prospective donor, we provide some elevator speech templates below. These and other templates can be found in the online Next Horizon Campaign Volunteer Toolkit at NHToolkit.FIU.edu.

SAMPLE ELEVATOR SPEECH TO A FELLOW ALUMNUS/ALUMNA:

“Hello, I’m _________, and I serve as (a volunteer, an advisory board member for the College of ______, or a member of the FIU President’s Council). It seems like everyone I meet is connected to FIU in some way: they either went here, send their kids here, or hired someone who went here.

After I graduated from FIU, I was so focused on life that I didn’t reconnect. But, now that I’ve become involved, I understand what kind of an impact FIU has in our community. It produces most of the public school teachers, architects, and engineers in Miami and contributes nearly $9 billion each year to the local economy. Being a part of the FIU family has also grown my network and business in ways I never anticipated.

I would welcome the chance to talk to you about reconnecting with FIU. Can I contact you and arrange a conversation sometime next week?”

SAMPLE ELEVATOR SPEECH TO A PEER:

“Hi, ________. You know I’ve been a volunteer leader at FIU for some time now. There are some really exciting things going on at FIU. The (advisory board for the College of ______, or FIU President’s Council) on which I serve is taking an active role in the university’s $750 million campaign, the largest campaign in its 50+-year history. We are running hard to keep up with FIU! It was just ranked one of the top 100 public universities in the country! I think you would be amazed at the achievements of its faculty and students. I know I am.

I would like to share more with you about the university—I think it would be a great pipeline for your company. Let’s pick a date to get together on a campus tour. I know you will be impressed. How is next Thursday afternoon?”

SAMPLE ELEVATOR SPEECH TO A PARENT:

“Your children go to FIU? Fantastic! It’s a great university, and a great value.

I serve (on an advisory board in _______ College, or on the President’s Council). And I meet Panther parents all the time who have been pleased with the outstanding education their child is receiving or who appreciated how an FIU degree opened doors for their child. When my son enrolled at FIU, I took the opportunity to attend lectures, go to football games, and see the museums. FIU had so much to offer, and the more I learned, the more I wanted to get involved. Have you considered getting involved with FIU in some way?

I would welcome the opportunity to give you an insider perspective on FIU and my role there. Can I give you a call next week?”


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSWe prepared answers to these questions most frequently asked by prospective donors to help guide your conversations and communications with them.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE NEXT HORIZON CAMPAIGN FOR FIU?

The Next Horizon campaign will place FIU at the forefront of discovery and innovation; health and society; weather and environment; influence and enterprise; and community, arts, and culture. This will be achieved by focusing on two pillars—student success and research preeminence—and attracting investments in the following campaign objectives:

• Increase scholarships and student support

• Optimize 21st-century teaching

• Advance a vibrant, healthy Miami

• Accelerate research and discoveries

• Escalate discovery to enterprise

The Next Horizon campaign will raise $750 million to create a better future for our students, our region, and our world.

HOW IS THE NEXT HORIZON DIFFERENT FROM WORLDS AHEAD?

Worlds Ahead is FIU’s brand. Worlds Ahead means taking the opportunity you are given and doing something great with it. It is an attitude, one that commands us to think differently, exceed expectations, and create new possibilities. Next Horizon is a natural progression of Worlds Ahead, elevating the visibility of our groundbreaking achievements and powering our big ideas into the future. Next Horizon represents both our trailblazing work and our plans for boundary-pushing initiatives.

WHAT GIFTS COUNT TOWARD THE NEXT HORIZON CAMPAIGN?

All gifts made to FIU during the Next Horizon campaign count toward our $750 million goal. The campaign seeks investments in FIU’s big ideas, in its areas of greatest potential, and in its future.

HOW WERE THE CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES DETERMINED?

The campaign funding priorities embody President Rosenberg’s vision for elevating FIU to greater levels of excellence in student success and research. The campaign priorities are aligned with the goals of the FIUBeyondPossible2020 Strategic Plan. Through the campaign, we seek investments in FIU’s strengths; in its big ideas; and in the people, facilities, and programs that will secure FIU’s role as a Next Horizon university for years to come. FIU’s strategic plan can be found at BeyondPossible.FIU.edu.

WILL ALL UNITS BENEFIT FROM THE CAMPAIGN?

FIU’s big ideas are multidisciplinary in nature and involve the work and commitment of many colleges and units. As we elevate these programs through the campaign, the whole university will benefit from campaign investments. And of course, we want donor investors to give to the areas they wish to support.

HOW WILL THE CAMPAIGN BENEFIT STUDENTS?

The campaign will benefit students directly, through scholarships, student-centric initiatives that support their academic success, and research opportunities, and indirectly, through state-of-the-art learning facilities and research excellence that boosts the value of an FIU degree.

WHAT IS AN ENDOWED CHAIR OR PROFESSORSHIP, AND WHY ARE THEY SO IMPORTANT?

Endowed professorships and chairs are funded in perpetuity. The income from endowments provides continuous funding for professor and chair salaries and their teaching and research activities. As a result, these endowments help a university become more self-sufficient and achieve long-term stability. Endowed professorships and chairs help universities attract and retain nationally and internationally recognized leaders in academic disciplines; high-achieving, early-career faculty sought after by other institutions; and other accomplished scholars in higher education. These positions also elevate the stature of a college or school and signal its expertise in particular areas of research.

WHY IS PRIVATE SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR A PUBLIC INSTITUTION?

Philanthropy is often the difference in what makes a good university a great university. Private support not only helps us attract and retain the best faculty, but it also reduces the cost of obtaining a degree, ensuring that the university remains accessible to students of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Today’s students are savvy consumers of higher education, and the competition for top students is fierce. Philanthropy can enable FIU to attract more of the best and brightest students with scholarships.


WHY DOES FIU NEED MY GIFT?

Philanthropy provides the margin of excellence that enables FIU to become an even greater university, steadfast in its commitments to addressing society’s most pressing challenges and educating the changemakers of the future. Through philanthropy, FIU can fulfill its commitments and determine its future.

HOW WILL MY GIFT MAKE AN IMPACT IN SUCH A LARGE CAMPAIGN?

It is only with the support of alumni, parents, and friends across all giving levels and investments from corporations and foundations that we will achieve our Next Horizon goal. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a substantial difference at FIU, funding scholarships, academic programs, technology upgrades, facility enhancements, and more. Each year, every gift, regardless of the amount, improves the FIU experience for our students.

HOW DO I EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN FIU?

There are many areas to invest in at FIU. You are encouraged to explore the Give.FIU.edu site and the NextHorizon.FIU.edu to find the areas of FIU that inspire you to make a difference.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MAJOR GIFT. TO WHOM SHOULD I SPEAK ABOUT MAKING A GIFT?

FIU has a network of development professionals who work with various colleges and programs across the university. Talk with a development professional about your philanthropic goals, and explore where your passions and FIU’s opportunities align. The directory at Give.FIU.edu/Directory/ will help you determine which development professional best fits your likely area of support.

I REPRESENT A FOUNDATION OR CORPORATION. TO WHOM SHOULD I SPEAK ABOUT MAKING A GIFT?

If you represent a foundation, please reach out to the Executive Director of Foundation Relations. If you are inquiring on behalf of a corporation, contact the Executive Director of Corporate Relations. Their contact information can be found at Give.FIU.edu/Directory/.

IS THE FIU FOUNDATION, INC., A TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION?

Yes. The FIU Foundation, Inc., is registered by the state of Florida as a charitable organization and is approved by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

WHAT FORM CAN A GIFT TAKE, AND WHAT KIND OF ASSETS CAN BE GIVEN?

A charitable gift can be created using cash, stock, retirement plan assets, life insurance, real estate, tangible personal property, and other nonmonetary assets (like patents or music rights). The timing of your gift might be important for personal, family, business, or tax planning reasons. Development professionals can work with donors to turn their ideas into charitable impact.

HOW DO I MAKE A PLANNED GIFT?

For the most straightforward of gifts, call your attorney and tax advisor to add the correct language to your will or trust. The FIU team is here to work with you and your advisors to make sure that your generosity will create a legacy in your area of interest. To make a gift to create an annuity that will provide you with income for life or for gifts of tangible assets, please reach out to your development professional. The directory at Give.FIU.edu/Directory/ will help you determine which development professional best fits your likely area of support.

WHAT IS AN ENDOWMENT?

An endowment is an investment in the future of FIU, because endowed funds support activities not just for one year, or even one generation, but forever. Endowments are created when donated money or other financial assets are invested in perpetuity by the university. The return on investment is used to fund opportunities such as scholarships and endowed professorships, or for other purposes that serve the donor’s wishes. Contact a development professional to discuss your interest.

HOW DO I MAKE A ONE-TIME GIFT TO FIU USING MY CREDIT CARD?

Visit the “Give Now” page on Give.FIU.edu to make a one-time gift using your credit card.

HOW DO I SET UP A MONTHLY OR REGULAR CREDIT CARD DEDUCTION?

Visit the “Give Now” page on Give.FIU.edu, and select “Making this a recurring gift” when inputting your gift information.

HOW DO I MAKE A PLEDGE TO GIVE A GIFT TO FIU ONLINE?

Visit the “Give Now” page on Give.FIU.edu, or contact an FIU development professional to discuss making a pledge.

MAY I SUBMIT MY GIFT BY MAIL?

Yes. Please send check or money order donations payable to the FIU Foundation, Inc., to the following address: 11200 SW 8th Street, MARC 5th Floor, Miami, FL 33199.

MAY I MAKE A GIFT TO FIU FROM ABROAD?

Yes. Give online at Give.FIU.edu, or speak to a development professional. The directory at Give.FIU.edu/Directory/ will help you determine which development professional best fits your area of support.

CAN I MAKE MY DONATION ANONYMOUSLY?

Yes, of course. The information we request is for our records and your tax purposes. If you wish to remain anonymous, we will honor that request. You may want to consider that your gift and act of giving could inspire others, and allowing us to count you among our donors shows others the incredible tapestry of FIU supporters.

HOW DO I SPECIFY MY GIFT IN HONOR OF OR AS A MEMORIAL FOR SOMEONE?

When making your gift online at Give.FIU.edu, select the option to make the gift in honor or in memory of someone. Note that gifts “in honor” recognize someone who is living, whereas gifts “in memory” recognize someone who has passed. You may also discuss your desire to honor or memorialize someone with a gift with one of FIU’s development professionals. A directory of FIU development professionals can be found at Give.FIU.edu/Directory/.


WAYS TO GIVE There are many ways to make a gift to FIU to have an impact on students and programs:

OUTRIGHT GIFTS

• Cash (including matching gifts)

• Stock

• Gifts of appreciated property

• Gifts of real estate

PLANNED GIFTS

• Bequests

• Charitable lead trusts

• Pooled income funds

• Charitable gift annuities

• Charitable remainder trusts

• Wealth replacement life insurance

HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF MY COMPANY HAS A MATCHING GIFTS PROGRAM?

You can find out whether your employer has a matching gifts program by checking our database of matching gift companies at Give.FIU.edu/How-to-Get-Involved/Annual-Giving. Or, contact your human resources department and ask whether they will match a gift to FIU.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR FIU FACULTY AND STAFF TO GIVE?

The Ignite Campaign is a vehicle for FIU employees to give back and help the university move forward. They may make donations at Ignite.FIU.edu.

I AM AN FIU FACULTY MEMBER, ADMINISTRATOR, OR STAFF PERSON. MAY I USE PAYROLL DEDUCTION TO MAKE A GIFT TO FIU?

Yes. FIU faculty and staff may set up payroll deductions by visiting Ignite.FIU.edu.

HOW DO I UPDATE MY PERSONAL INFORMATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY?

Alumni may update their personal information on FIUAlumni.com. Donors may send updated information via mail to FIU Foundation, Inc., Attention: Constituent Records Management Department, 11200 SW 8th Street, MARC 5th Floor, Miami, FL 33199.

HOW DO I VIEW MY GIVING HISTORY?

Please contact the Constituent Records Management Department at the FIU Foundation, Inc., to request information regarding your giving history. A list of Constituent Records Management Department staff is accessible on the FIU Foundation Directory by selecting “Advancement Services” from the drop-down menu at Give.FIU.edu/Directory.


EXAMPLES OF

CAMPAIGN FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

INCREASE SCHOLARSHIPS AND STUDENT SUPPORT

• Providing access to excellence• Supporting student participation in

high-impact educational activities

OPTIMIZE 21ST-CENTURY TEACHING

• Advancing teaching excellence and rewarding innovation

• Promoting active learning

ADVANCE A VIBRANT, HEALTHY MIAMI

• Advancing the physical and mental well-being of people

• Ensuring the cultural vibrancy of our city

Scholarships:• Merit-based scholarships• Completion scholarships• Emergency assistance scholarships

Support for high-impact activities:• Scholarships that enable working students to participate in study

abroad, undergraduate research, or unpaid internships

Support for students in the community:• Workforce development programs• K-12 programs

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Endowment and discretionary funds for• Faculty fellowships for special projects that advance their teaching,

research, and leadership at FIU• Faculty travel and conference support

Support for teaching innovation programs:• Teaching Incentive Program• Course Enhancement Grants for Faculty Innovation• Course Design Institutes• Student Consultants of Teaching Program

Support for active learning classrooms:• Retrofitting classrooms into collaborative, flexible spaces that promote

hands-on, small-group learning facilitated by Learning Assistants

Endowment and discretionary funds for community outreach through• Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELP• Center for Children and Families• FIU Embrace

Endowment for modernizing buildings and exhibition space or preserving and enhancing collections at• Jewish Museum of Florida–FIU • Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum–FIU • The Wolfsonian–FIU• CasaCuba


FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Support for• Translational research and commercialization projects that meet a market

need or improve health outcomes• Public-private partnerships for product development • Development and commercialization of FIU technologies and innovations • Startups via seed funding for early-stage capital• StartUP FIU business accelerator for student, faculty, and community

entrepreneurs

Endowment and discretionary support for• Chairs and professorships within colleges • Faculty cluster hires to bolster expertise in a preeminent or emerging

preeminent program• Faculty research• Cross-institutional research • Scholarships for undergraduate research• Graduate and postdoctoral fellowships • New or upgraded facilities, laboratories, and equipment

ACCELERATE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERIES

• Solving society’s toughest challenges through research and innovation

• Fueling discovery of new cures and interventions

• Preparing the scholars of tomorrow

ESCALATE DISCOVERY TO ENTERPRISE

• Translating big ideas into real-world applications

• Creating a more vibrant economy


LIFETIME GIVING SOCIETIES AT FIU Lifetime giving societies celebrate our donors’ charitable giving and place donors among the larger community of individuals who are dedicated to the growth of FIU. They also bring donors into the closest part of the university, allowing them to see and experience aspects of FIU that others do not get to be a part of. Through these societies, we show donors how committed we are to them as a result of their commitment to us. Information about FIU’s new lifetime giving societies is available in the online Next Horizon Campaign Volunteer Toolkit at NHToolkit.fiu.edu.

MAKE YOUR MARK, HONOR OTHERS

From buildings to programs, donors looking for recognition―for themselves or those they may choose to honor or remember―will find a wealth of opportunities to link an individual name or names with ours. Corporate partners can create brand affinity with 56,000+ current FIU students, 10,000 faculty and staff, more than 215,000 alumni, and their families, friends, and neighbors, here and around the globe.

Your development professional can offer ideas and ensure that proposed naming opportunities are appropriate and in line with university guidelines.


NEXT HORIZON CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER TOOLKIT WEBSITE Next Horizon volunteer leaders have online access to all of the resources in this handbook, as well as additional campaign-related content, on a private, password-protected website, Next Horizon Campaign Volunteer Toolkit. There, you will have access to resources and information on our FIU, including the following:

• Up-to-date highlights about the university and its colleges and units

• Downloadable communication templates

• A directory of FIU development staff

• A calendar of upcoming university events

• Campaign videos

• A list of frequently asked questions

• Marketing materials and branding guides

• And more

Please bookmark this website on your computer or smartphone so you may come back to it whenever you need.

URL: NHToolkit.FIU.edu

PASSWORD: nexthorizon

VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK 3234 FIU NEXT HORIZON

TOGETHER, WE WILL IMPACT THE FUTUREThere are so many great things happening at FIU, and now that you know, we want you to tell everyone!From counting sharks and rays at more than 400 reefs worldwide to providing health monitoring and care in some of Miami’s most underserved communities, FIU is providing solutions for the community at home and around the world. With your help, we will reach and exceed our Next Horizon $750 million campaign goal and provide access to excellence and groundbreaking research for a better global future.

We hope you found this information useful. Please refer to the online toolkit at NHToolkit.fiu.edu for additional resources, the latest statistics and points of pride, helpful ideas, talking points, sample emails and scripts, and more. Reach out to your development team members for strategic support, print or digital materials, or anything else you need.


FIU HOMEPAGE FIU.edu

NEXT HORIZON CAMPAIGN WEBSITE NextHorizon.FIU.edu

NEXT HORIZON CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER TOOLKIT WEBSITE NHToolkit.FIU.edu

GIVING PAGE Give.FIU.edu

FIU ALUMNI FIUAlumni.com

FIU NEWS news.FIU.edu

Publication Print Date: January 2019

FIU FOUNDATION, INC./UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

Modesto A. Maidique Campus (MMC) 11200 SW 8th St. - MARC 500

Miami, Florida 33199 305-348-6298

VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK€¦ · I want to thank you for joining us in our campaign to change lives. Next...

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