Please welcome Tina Howard from the University of Illinois. Tina has been with Illinois since 1998 and has served as the Assistant Dean of Development for the College of Business for the last six years. Tina earned her BS in Fashion Merchandising from The Ohio State University and is full of Buckeye pride. I first met Tina on the golf course at Michigan State University during the Big Ten Development Conference... she can teach you a thing or two about golf - I think you'll find the same is true for development!Here's Tina's input on the More Donors Questionnaire:
1 - What is the biggest challenge your fundraising efforts currently face?
Our biggest challenge right now is the recession (nationwide), the economic condition of the state of Illinois and the impact both are having on our annual fund donors. We are up in donor participation but down in dollars. Meanwhile, the state is about $500,000 behind in budget payments to the University. We have not see any money since our fiscal year started July 1, 2009. Next fiscal year will be worse since Illinois decided to take the education stimulus package all in one year, which was last year.
2 - What are you doing to overcome these challenges?
We are continuing to travel and get the dean, who is fairly new, out in front of our alumni. We are also doing more e-solicitations and e-invitations.
3 - What is the most successful change/program implementation you have made in your current role?
Involving student and faculty members more with regards to annual solicitation and stewardship, letters signed by students and showing the donors how their annual fund support is being used. We have implemented an annual e-solicitation in the winter and an e-thank you in the spring. We have implemented a young alumni networking group and a giving society, as well as a Senior Class Gift Program.
4 - Where do you see social-media’s best application for fundraising?
Facebook is the most popular social media. We use it to reach out to our young alumni and our student organizations.
5 - What question would you find most useful for readers to answer?
#3 above - What is the most successful change/program implementation you have made in your current role?
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