Fundraising Detailed Assessment Report 2015-2016 Mission / Purpose To provide opportunities through fundraising for students to pursue a quality education and assist in developing the important qualities of independent thinking, respect for the ideas of others, personal integrity and character in order to realize their quests for a philosophy of life and self-fulfillment. I. Goals and Outcomes/Objectives, with Any Related Measures, Targets, Findings, and Action Plans A. Foster growth across all areas of campus. Foster growth across all areas of campus. 1. Objective: Conduct an Annual Fund drive The Office of Institutional Advancement will conduct an Annual Fund drive which will begin on October 1 and will conclude on September 30. All faculty, staff, alumni, identified friends of the University as well as targeted members of the business community, will be solicited for financial gifts to the University. a. Measure: Receive gifts and pledges through the drive The Annual Fund will receive gifts and pledges from those constituencies solicited. Blackbaud fundraising software will track all gifts and pledges received. Office has a goal of $500,000 in the annual fund drive, which staff will strive to accomplish through mailings, end-of-the-year solicitations and personal solicitations. The goal of $500,000 in annual fund contributions was exceeded by September 30, 2016. b. Measure: Receive capital campaign gifts and pledges The University will receive capital campaign gifts and pledges for the fiscal year. Blackbaud fundraising software will track all gifts and pledges received. The Office of Institutional Advancement strives to raise over $500,000 for the Annual Fund each year. The Office of Institutional Advancement raised over $500,000 for the Annual Fund this year. 2. Objective: Work collaboratively with representatives to increase state funding The Vice President for Institutional Advancement will serve as the University's registered lobbyist before the Alabama Legislature and will work collaboratively with representatives from all of Alabama's public universities to increase state funding for public universities. a. Measure: Increase state appropriation Page 1 of 5
The University will receive an increase in its annual state appropriation which will reflect a similar increase as like-sized institutions. A comparison will be made between the state appropriations of all public universities in Alabama. Increase state funding to remain financially comparable to institutions of similar size. The University increased its state funding to remain financially comparable to institutions of similar size. The University had one of its best ever years given the status of higher education apportionments in the State of Alabama. 3. Objective: Federal Funding The Vice President for Institutional Advancement will present federal funding agenda to members of Congress. a. Measure: Federal Funding The University will receive federal funding for projects submitted for Congressional consideration. The Office of Institutional Advancement will strive to increase federal funding for University projects to supplement University resources and provide additional avenues of resources. The University, through the Office of Institutional Advancement and other departments, continues to work on increasing federal funding for University projects. The University has had recent success receiving grants from the federal government for multiple projects across campus. 4. Objective: Work on Capital Funding and Scholarship Funds The Office of Institutional Advancement will work to solicit capital-type gifts from corporations, individuals and other entities to secure the necessary funds to meet the everchanging needs of the University. The Development Office will also start the process of soliciting gifts from alumni, friends and businesses to match the $300,000 in scholarship funds provided by the University's Board of Trustees. a. Measure: Receive capital campaign gifts and pledges The University will receive capital campaign gifts and pledges for the fiscal year. Blackbaud fundraising software will track all gifts and pledges received. Continue to increase capital-type gifts and scholarship funds. The Office of Institutional Advancement met its goal of continuing to increase the capital-type gifts it receives and to increase scholarship funds raised by the University. II. Other Plans for Improvement A. Continue individual solicitations for capital-type gifts Continue individual solicitations for capital-type gifts. Solicitations will be made to alumni, corporations, foundations, and friends of the University. Page 2 of 5
Established in Cycle: 2010-2011 Implementation Description: Conduct prospect research and make visits Additional Resources Requested: Travel = $25,000 Budget Amount Requested: $25,000.00 (recurring) 12/6/2016 The Office of Institutional Advancement will continue to solicit capital-type gifts from the University's alumni, friends and supporters. This past year the University made a concerted effort to increase scholarship money available to students with the alumni very receptive to the solicitations. B. Complete Annual Fund Drive An Annual Fund Drive will be started in January / February 2017 with a data audit and strategic planning. The office will run three campaigns this year: spring, summer, and fall. Office will use a multi-channel approach in each campaign period. Established in Cycle: 2011-2012 Implementation Description: Office will begin by employing systems critical to annual fund success. Systems include Raiser's Edge NXT, Financial Edge NXT, and BBNC. Projected Completion Date: 12/29/2019 Additional Resources Requested: None. C. Coordinate with Lobbyists and Elected Officials The University will work more closely with its lobbyists and elected officials to secure more federal funding. The University believes through better coordination that projects on campus can receive federal funding. Established in Cycle: 2011-2012 Implementation Description: A more concerted effort will be made to coordinate with the University's lobbyists and the elected officials on funding opportunities. Projected Completion Date: 09/28/2013 12/6/2016 This action plan is an on-going endeavor for this office. The office has a newly appointed Director of Government Relations, Mr. Tom Tartt, whose primary objective is to accomplish this goal. D. Increase Presence in Washington The University, with the help of its lobbyists, will continue to increase its presence in Washington. The desired effect will be an increase in federal appropriations for campus projects. Established in Cycle: 2011-2012 Implementation Description: The University will work with its lobbyists to increase the school's presence. UWA has hired a Special Assistant to the President, Johnny Aycock, to represent UWA in Washington. Projected Completion Date: 09/28/2013 E. Increase in travel funds Page 3 of 5
The Office of Institutional Advancement would like to request an increase in travel funds for the upcoming budgetary cycle. With the conclusion of the capital campaign, the development staff will be on the road more to finalize gifts and close-out the campaign. This coupled with the ever-increasing cost of fuel and related services is expected to cause a strain on the travel budget for the upcoming year. Established in Cycle: 2012-2013 Implementation Status: Planned Implementation Description: The Office of Institutional Advancement would request additional budgetary resources to offset the increased travel by the development staff and the increasing cost of fuel. Projected Completion Date: 09/27/2012 Additional Resources Requested: Additional budgetary resources Budget Amount Requested: $30,000.00 (recurring) 12/6/2016 The increase in travel funds is a constant need that is requested each year to offset increases in travel costs, especially as we continue to try and grow our donor base. IV. Analysis Questions and Analysis Answers A. What specific strengths did your assessments show? (Strengths) The assessments showed the Office of Institutional Advancement worked well together to meet its targets. Despite the limited resources of University constituents, Institutional Advancement was able to channel fundraising efforts to meet the areas around campus that were in most need (i.e. scholarships) of support. B. What specific weaknesses or challenges did your assessments show? (Weaknesses) The challenges faced by the Office of Institutional Advancement were the limited amount of resources in play. The number of donors and the amount of money each donor can contribute is limited. This challenge reinforces the need of Institutional Advancement to work together to meet all needs and goals. C. What plans were implemented? 1. The Office exceeded their goal for Annual Fund contributions. 2. The Office continued to solicit and increase capital-type gifts and scholarship funds. 3. Assisted in increasing state funding for the University, especially given the states of higher education apportionments in the state. 4. Worked to increase federal funding, primarily through grant funding. D. What plans were not implemented? All plans were implemented. E. How will assessment results be used for continuous improvement? The assessment results will be used to determine what type resources are available for fundraising opportunities and what projects are best received by our constituents. V. Annual Report Section Responses A. Key Achievements Development had another successful year fund-raising. Office implemented the 1835 Club to increase participation from new donors. B. Staff Achievements Page 4 of 5
Margaret Hagood and Sunny Terry did an outstanding job heading up the University's participation in the Higher Education Partnership. C. Public/Community Service All members of the Office of Institutional Advancement served their respective communities and service-based organizations. Page 5 of 5
Planning and Assessment Approval Department or Division: Fundraising Chair or Director: Dr. Chris Thomason Dean or Vice President: Dr. Chris Thomason UUilili&UU.CLUC Goals Goals are broad statements describing what the unit wants to accomplish. Goals relate to both the unit's mission and the University's mission. The goal(s) is stated as the University goal(s) a unit is attempting to meet.,,,,, Outcomes/Objectives Outcomes and objectives are statements that describe in some detail what the unit plans to accomplish. Outcomes/objectives are associated with all applicable goals, strategic plans, standards, and institutional priorities. / Objectives are active-verb descriptions of specific points or tasks the unit will accomplish or reach. Outcomes are active-verb descriptions ofa desired end result related to student learning and the unit's mission. /" --- Measures Measures are statements to judge success in achieving the stated outcome or objective. Measures contain information on the type of evidence and assessment tool that a unit will use to verify if stated outcome/objective has been met. Achievement Targets Achievement targets are the thresholds that the measures must meet for the unit to determine that it has been successful in meeting its specified outcomes/objectives. Achievement targets are measurable statements.../ --- / ---
Findings Findings are indications whether an outcome/objective was met or not. Findings are put into the system under each achievement target. Findings include an interpretation ofresults, possible uses of results, reflection on problems encountered, indicated improvements/changes and strengths or weakness. _.,,,,,, Action Plans Action plans are detailed plans created by the unit to meet an outcome/objective that was only partially met or not met or to make improvement to those outcomes/objectives that were met but still need some strengthening. The plan includes a projected completion date, implementation description, responsible person(s)/group, resources required, and budget amount (ifapplicable). ~ Action plans created in previous cycles have been updated with implementation notes. Annual Report The Annual Report section contains information on key achievements, faculty and/or staff achievements, and community/public. ~ ~ Analysis Report The unit has reflected on and created narratives for each of the following areas: specific strengths and progress made on outcomes/objectives, specific weaknesses or challenges, plans that were and were not implemented, and how assessment results will be used for continuous improvement. /' Approved by: <;-:::: ±T::c-;:(Z'±~-- -::-:--;:;-~..?=-----"":: Received by OIE:,_-ff-_,,,,,>-----~-------- Date: Date: z fa/rt J-pa U t I J