Acorn

Drew University's wallet got fatter last year by $11.2 million. Thanks to the contributions of 10,000 alumni, corporate sponsors, foundations and churches, last year's fundraising efforts almost broke records. It was the fourth highest in Drew's 139-year history, according to Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs Ron Ross.

Some 45 percent of Drew's 11,500 college alumni donated an average of $1,400 each, according to Ross. In addition to two major gifts, alumni revenue totaled $7.6 million. Gifts from corporations and foundations totaled $1.7 million while church-related groups donated $965,000. Some $816,000 came from other sources.

In comparison, Drew raised $8.1 million in 2005, $10 million in 2004 and $7.3 million in 2003. The highest amount raised was $22 million in 2001, at the height of Drew's seven-year-long capital campaign.

The $11.2 million raised will fund "forward thinking" projects like the Presidential Initiatives Fund and Bachelor's and Master's program and will establish centers, according to Ross. Drew President Bob Weisbuch added that future funds will go toward student scholarships, faculty positions, buildings and the endowment.

"Another name for development is 'advancement,'" Ross said. "It's not raising money for the status quo, it's raising money for the advancement of our goals."

One of the development office's biggest challenges is keeping Drew's young alumni engaged, according to Ross. Half of Drew's alumni have graduated since 1986 and 10 percent have graduated since 2003.

"Many of the young alumni are still establishing themselves, and sometimes they feel embarrassed if they can't afford a $100 gift," Ross said. "But this is good news, it means we have a bright future and the opportunity to keep them engaged for life."

Steven DeLuca (CLA '99) has been an active alumus since graduation. He is on the College Alumni Association Board and sits on its nominating, development and reunion committees. Although DeLuca, of Virginia, preferred not to disclose the amount of his donation, he said he has been a member of the Drew Society, an organization for donors who give $1,000 and up since he graduated.

"It's important for alumni to take ownership of their University," he said. "Even if they give consistently at a lower level."

The development office mailed more than 86,000 letters, sent out 61,000 e-mails, and had students and staff make more than 30,000 phone calls soliciting donations last year, according to a development office report.

Many more letters, e-mails and phone calls went out to for "cultivation" purposes.

"Our goal is to make everyone remain part of Drew," Ross said. "is about building relationships and maintaining them."

Cara Gizzi (CLA '95) wishes she could stay more connected with Drew other than through her annual donation. She was reminded of what life in the Forest was like when she attended a reception for Weisbuch in the Boston area last year.

"We alumni are out of touch, and it made me really happy to be surrounded by Drew," she said. "Drew means so much to me. Even though I'm not a millionaire, I can give a little bit back and hopefully that will help somebody along the way."

To encourage alumni to play active roles in the University , Drew hosts many cultivation events each year. Alumni gather for reunions, meet up at Drew's tent at the Far Hills Races, play golf at the John von der Heide Golf Classic to honor the former professor and return to Drew for Life After Drew and volunteer for the Shadowing Mentor Program. They attend educational trips with professors and interview perspective students as part of the Drew Alumni Recruitment Team.

At the end of the day, the cost to raise $1 from alumni costs Drew around 20 cents, Ross said.

Another of the Development office's challenges is tracking donors and their donations, according to Ross. Razor's Edge, software designed for college development offices, will "revolutionize" the way Drew does business, he said.

One of Weisbuch's colleagues recently asked if the fundraising part of a university president's job was what it was cracked up to be.

"It doesn't feel like 'fundraising," Weisbuch said. "It just feels like I'm excited about Drew's future--it's not apart from the intellectual in the way I thought it would be."

His favorite part of the job is talking one-on-one with Drew alumni who've lost touch with the University, and getting potential corporate and foundation donors excited about Drew, he said.

"It's not like you come away with $1 million in your pocket," Weisbuch said. "You keep visiting with people and after a while they'll want to help out in any way they can. It's as much fun as any part of the job."

In addition to asking for money, Weisbuch has been encouraging corporations to target students as interns or have scientists at local pharmaceutical companies teach courses at Drew.

Provost Pamela Gunter-Smith is working on a project to help step up fundraising efforts. Gunter-Smith is "currently in very premature conversations" with people across the University to develop the plan for an Office of Sponsored Research, she said.

"Generally, offices like this help coordinate efforts at institutions to secure extramural funds," Gunter-Smith said. "It would help support faculty apply, set up budgets and put together progress reports for research grants. Funds could also support the institution, for instance, if there is a grant the goes towards the development of a science curriculum."

Drew is on course to repeat last year's success. Between July 1 and Sept. 30, Drew raised $1.6 million -- a 45 percent increase from the amount raised during those months last year.

"We"ve already created a buzz," Weisbuch said. "But, our buzz will get a lot louder soon."

Article Tools