University of Alberta Edmonton, Canada 4 April 1997

More than one in three have supported internal fundraising campaign

Organizers say that bodes well for the external campaign

By Michael Robb

Do well internally. Do well externally.

Fund-raisers across North America say that's the way it works. A successful internal fund-raising campaign at a university helps the institution's development officers "make the case" to external donors.

"When we began this campaign, we knew that we would have to be successful on campus if we were going to be successful off campus," says Claudette Tardif, dean of Facult? Saint-Jean. "We surpassed our financial goal and raised more than $2 million. More importantly, we surpassed our percentage goal, and reached a higher giving rate than has ever been reached at a Canadian university."

According to Dr. Terry Flannigan, executive director of external affairs, the fact that 36 per cent of staff gave is a powerful demonstration to external donors of the kind of commitment people have who study and work at the University. "We have learned about the incredible generousity of our students and staff."

Two examples of giving on campus are noteworthy. First, engineering students voted to donate $25 per semester to an equipment fund for the next 10 years. Over the course of the five-year fund-raising campaign, that fund will generate about $600,000. Second, the Graduate Students' Association negotiated an agreement with the University to redirect $8 million from tuition fees to the creation of graduate scholarships.

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