Comprehensive Campaign Readiness & Feasibility Study Questions/Answers

Transcription

1 05/31/17 1. Do you have a preliminary timetable for the $100 to $150 million campaign? Yes, with ideally a March 2018 launch. 2. As part of the scope of work, you are looking for a firm to assist with the development of a case for support. Does this mean that you will draft the preliminary case internally and ask the selected firm to review and refine it for external testing or would you like the selected firm to develop the case using the identified priorities? Develop the case using identified priorities. 3. How many members in the development office are considered front line fundraisers? Seven 4. What database do you use? How many donor records do you have in the database? How many have addresses? Raiser s Edge. # of Constituent Records = 152,714 # of Addressable Records = 149,705 # of Records w/ Valid Addresses = 83,034 # of Living Alumni = 117,305 # of Individual Donors = 67,869 # of Organizational Donors = 3,762 # of Total Donors = 71,631 % of constituent records that are alumni = 76.8% % of constituent records that are donors = 46.9% 5. In the RFP, you state this contract will likely run 4 months. Is this your preferred timetable for completion of the study or is there flexibility? Have you identified a firm delivery date? Anticipate a delivery date prior to December 1, Do you have a budget for this study? Yes 7. Under the Reimbursements section, a $10,000 allocation for in-person conversations is mentioned. Is this the maximum allowable amount that you will reimburse the selected vendor for conducting these interviews? Does this include associated travel expenses for conducting the interviews, presenting the results in person, or any other time on-site? This is to acknowledge a budget has been established for travel to site and to meet with prospective donors for interviews. 8. Under the Reimbursements section, there is a statement that reimbursements will not be made for travel expenses incurred outside of Minnesota unless written permission from the State is granted. The Additional Information section states that face-to-face interviews may take place in Phoenix, Chicago, and Southern California. What is the likelihood that out of state interviews will take place? Do you anticipate any issues with the State granting permission for travel fees associated with out of state interviews? The likelihood that out of state interviews will take place is highly likely. We do not anticipate any issues with the State granting permission for travel fees associated with out of state interviews. 1

2 9. Do you have a proposed budget for this counsel? See response to Question How many records do you have in your database? See response to Question Do you anticipate inviting participating firms following proposal submission to present before selecting counsel? If so, can you provide the anticipated attendees? No 12. Are you seeking an updated wealth screening from the 2015 screening? No 13. Can you supply the number and percent of dollars raised by source and constituency for the past five years? Yes 14. If readily available, what are the number of gifts received by the University annually in the following gift ranges: below $2.5K, 2.5K to 5k, 5k-10k, 10k-25k, 25k-50k, 50k-100k+? $1- $2, $2,500- $4, Gifts Received (Cash, Pledge, Stock, In-Kind) $5,000- $9, $10,000- $24, $25,000- $49, $50,000+ FY17 To Date 6, FY16 7, FY15 9, What is the largest gift ever received by the University from individual(s) and/or entities? $8 million from an individual donor. 16. Prior to the campaign, what is the history of past capital campaigns including goal, amount raised in total, and duration (timetable) of the active campaign? Goal of $35 million, Total of $39 million raised, total timetable was 5 years (estimated ) 17. Can you characterize the Board s engagement in development/advancement? Low engagement, but interested in participating. 18. Can you characterize the University president s engagement in development/advancement? Low engagement based on % of tie currently invested, but interested and willing. 19. How many addressable records are in your database? What percent of these are alumni? What is the total number of alumni donors? See answer to Question We understand you conducted a wealth screening in Has any other analytical work been done since then, such as predictive modeling? Yes, we are a Reeher client and are into our 4 th year of using predictive modelling. 2

3 21. Are there any initial thoughts on the areas the University would to allocate funding toward during a major campaign? Bricks and Mortar, Scholarship (merit/need), Research and Commercialization, new College of Agriculture. 22. In addition to the evaluation criteria given in the RFP, we would like to ask respectfully if there are any driving factors that will influence your firm selection. What are you looking for in a partner? Clear understanding of our opportunities and challenges, and ability to help chart a path forward. 23. What are the fundraising priority areas under consideration for this campaign? See answer to Question Minnesota State University Mankato s last campaign goal was $75 million. What was the breakdown of constituents who contributed to this campaign? Breakdown by gift amount and number of gifts: $1million+: 9 $500,000+: 2 $250,000+: 16 $100,000+: 44 $50,000+: 63 $25,000+: 99 $10,000+: 245 $1+: 110, Does Minnesota State Mankato have plans for any new facilities finalized? No 26. How many interviews would you like conducted as part of the Feasibility Study? We normally propose a number, based on our experience, but some clients have other thoughts on that. We would like to hear your rationale. 27. Have the campaign priorities and preliminary financial goal been set? If so, what are the priorities and what is the amount to be tested during the feasibility study? See answer for question How many firms have been invited to submit a proposal? Ten (10) firms were invited and the RFP was listed on the appropriate State of Minnesota websites. 29. Is it essential to provide post-feasibility executive summaries as stated in the RFP? Yes 30. Understanding that the length of the campaign is likely something you expect the consultant to recommend, do you have a preconceived notion on the length of this forthcoming campaign (i.e., 5 or 7 years)? No 3

4 31. Noting that your previous campaign raised $61M in cash and planned gifts and $77M for all gifts (including non-government grants), is there a range or a minimum amount that you aspire to raise for the forthcoming campaign? No 32. On page 8 in the Instructions to Proposers section, and again on Page 13 of the Submission section, it states: Each set must include a Table of Contents and organized with dividers between each alpha and numbering system. Can you expand on this instruction to clarify the alpha and numbering system? Does this relate to the RFP document in some way? We request dividers placed between each section whether you use alpha or numerical systems. 33. On page 8 in the Scope of Work-Detailed Service Plan section, it states: Provide an executive summary which describes the services that will be provided and how the firm will address the needs, objectives and requirements outlined in Section 2-Scope of Services. However, Section 2 is titled, Section II. Parties to the RFP. Is there a different section of the RFP that the executive summary should address? This reference was an error on our part. Please address the information listed in Section III: Vendor Requirements. 34. On page 17 in Appendix A: Additional Information, question #6 asks: How large is the SFASU Foundation board? What does the acronym, SFASU stand for? This was our error. This should have read MSUMF. 35. Has the university determined how many feasibility interviews it wants selected contractor to conduct? No 36. Has the University created a draft case for support that can be tested during feasibility interviews? a. If yes, is it a text document, or is it a graphically designed draft case brochure? No b. If not, have materials been prepared that communicate the priorities of the proposed campaign? No 37. How many (or what percentage) of interviews would need to be conducted outside the state of Minnesota. 30% 38. What percentage of current major gifts come from outside of Minnesota? 25% 39. Of the funds raised annually, does this include government grants or contracts, and research grants and private philanthropy (individuals, foundations, alumni) a. What percentage of annual funds raised are: government grants/contracts: 19% private philanthropy: 50% special events: 1% planned gifts or estate gifts: 30% 4

5 40. What number and percentage of foundation board members reside within MN and how many are out of state? Of those who are out of state, is it expected that the selected firm would interview these individuals in person? Will the university prioritize which (and how many) from out of state should be personally interviewed? 4 of the 16 live out of state. Of those who live out of state, 3 are within 2 hours of Mankato. 41. What is the legal relationship between the University and the Foundation? What is the actual or working relationship between the two parties? The Foundation is a separate 501c3 with a privately elected board and 3 University employees holding ex-officio status. The working relationship involves a Vice President for University Advancement who provides leadership and support for the board and overall the two entities enjoy an energetic and collaborative relationship. 42. Does the University or its foundation have offices in locations other than Mankato? The Foundation does not. The University has 3 other locations within the state of Minnesota. 43. Regarding reimbursement of expenses: is travel to and from the University from outside of Minnesota eligible for reimbursement under the current "Commissioners Plan." If not, has prior written approval been requested for this project? Reimbursement is eligible through the Commissioner s Plan. 5