Consultant helps with JMU fund raising

Fund raising continues to improve at JMU annually as alumni and friends continue to support the university year after year.

A consultant was recently asked to train a new development staff and some of the deans in preparation for new JMU fund raising initiatives.

JMU has used consultants in the past for a variety of fund raising issues, JMU spokesman Andy Perrine said.

These consultants will help with reorganizing certain areas of JMU’s fund raising.
Jeff Gilligan, director of the Madison Fund, said that the fund is doing as well now, if not better, than in past years.

The Madison Fund is the annual giving program at JMU. It combines monetary gifts and distributes them to designated areas of the university to support scholarships, student internships, faculty chairs, building projects, programs and more.

"Annual funds are a good gauge of donor willingness to give because it represents the broadest cross section of possible donors," Perrine said. "Annual fund donors are the alumni and friends who give the university money year after year."

Perrine also said the Madison Fund, which is an important indicator of the university’s prospects in raising private giving over the long term, is ahead of last year at this time.

He also commented that there are "several alumni who give the university $10,000 every year, and this group continues to grow yearly."

According to Perrine, the fall calling program resulted in 500 more donors than last year, which shows an increase in participation.

"Expanding participation is as important as raising more actual dollars because it means that our pool of potential donors is greater — and over time, as our alumni get older and acquire more wealth, they will give more to Madison," Perrine said.

Perrine said the Athletic Performance Center was the result of very successful capital campaign. People who donate large amounts for such a project will give more again in the future, but not immediately.

"We are always hoping to increase private giving," Perrine said. "But existing programs are not negatively affected when private giving does not increase in any given period."

He said the three areas benefiting most from private giving are student scholarships, faculty support and capital projects such as the Athletic Performance Center.

Niles Eggleston, assistant director of athletics for development, said that they were trying to raise $7 million for the center, but received "well over that in pledges." He said it was a very successful campaign.

Eggleston also said the Duke Club and endowments are up from last year, while the money for building is only slightly under what it was last year.

He said that in 2000, there was a restructuring of the department to help with fundraising and, since then, the numbers have been higher each year. In fact, each month in 2004 raised either the highest amount or second-highest amount for that month in the past 10 years.

The restructuring allowed the athletic department to concentrate efforts to raising money, said Eggleston.