Case Studies
In these examples of successful implementation of best practices and innovative solutions, you may find ideas and inspiration that can refine and strengthen your philanthropy programs.
Establishing an Annual Leadership Gift Society
Working collaboratively with partners across campus as director of annual leadership programs, Theresa Lee worked to create the William Barton Rogers Society in 2007 to honor MIT's founder and recognize the Institute's annual leadership donors. With strong branding and marketing, alumni-hosted receptions across the country, volunteer leadership across classes, and strong support from Institute leaders and faculty, annual leadership donors increased by 27 percent in its first year.
Developing and Retaining Talent
After taking over the management of the class giving team at MIT, Theresa coached each annual giving officer to work toward their professional goals. All but one colleague wanted to become a major gift officer and asked for opportunities to develop those skills. She positioned each for success by increasing their front line fundraising experience, including ongoing mentoring, on and off-site training, and setting goals for visits, dollars, and donors. Four of the five officers were promoted to become a major gift officers in resource development at MIT, retaining successful and knowledgeable talent at the Institute.
Days of Giving Crowdfunding Campaign
Creating UMass Lowell's first-ever Days of Giving proved to be a great success, establishing a donor record for a 48-hour campaign at UML, increasing faculty and staff giving by 5 percent, and completing the campaign at 400 percent over goal. It was a collaborative effort by the annual giving team and its partners across campus, with more than 2,200 alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends giving back to the university in record numbers and raising $288,729. Sixty-six percent of the donors gave on the GiveCampus crowdfunding platform, with other gifts coming through mail, email, telephone, and in-person. Social-sharing ambassadors, on-campus events, and challenge and matching gifts encouraged participation across a wide array of constituents.
MIT Club Participation Challenge
To increase participation and more directly engage alumni clubs in building support for the MIT Annual Fund, Alumni Relations partnered with the Annual Fund in establishing the first Club Participation Challenge. Thanks to a generous donor, a new scholarship was established for the MIT club that raised their Annual Fund participation percentage the most. A total of 10 clubs joined the challenge. First prize ($50K); 2nd and 3rd place ($5K each).
In year two, the number of participating clubs jumped from 10 to 21. Two international clubs took first and second place in the competition, which was a $25,000 challenge funded by combined gifts of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. The winning clubs were awarded funds to establish or add to an existing scholarship fund.