The UA brought in $466 million from donations and endowments last year, although there are no large-scale fundraisers planned for the future, according to UA Foundation officials.
Dana Wier, vice president of communications and marketing for the UA Foundation, said the foundation is not planning any specific fundraising projects because it is President Robert Shelton’s first year at the UA, and he is still determining and shaping the university’s overall direction.
“”University priorities determine fundraising goals,”” Wier said.
The UA ranked 133 out of all U.S. universities, with an 18 percent increase in funds from the previous year, according to the Washington, D.C.,-based National Association of College and University Business Officers report.
The UA Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to raising funds for the university, concluded a campus-wide fundraising effort last year and raised $1.2 billion in eight years.
A lot of people work together in fundraising efforts for the university, including Shelton, administrators and UA Foundation president and CEO James H. Moore, Jr., Wier said.
Ginny Healy, senior director of development for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS), said fundraising efforts and techniques can be challenging, especially since the college is the largest academic college in the university.
“”All of our departments need to be treated equally in terms of attention for fundraising support; otherwise, SBS sinks,”” Healy said.
The college created a College Advisory Board, on which members adopt a particular unit or department of SBS.
“”Board members are recruited from all walks of the community and placed where they fit in the best or where they already have an interest,”” Healy said.
Each board member helps his or her unit by donating to the department and helping directors of units connect with community members for future donations.
“”That’s how we cover all 23 departments,”” Healy said. “”The board members really make a difference in their units.””
Edward J. Wright, director of Judaic studies, said since Judaic studies is a smaller unit, it relies mostly on private donations.
“”Fundraising is never easy – it demands time and energy, but the results are positive,”” Wright said. “”Funds are used to expand programs (and) cover expenses and are all worthwhile.””
Wright said his department benefits from the generosity of donors who support Judaic studies education.
“”In this environment, each department should be thinking 100 percent of the time on how to raise funds,”” Wright said.
Bob Logan, senior director of development for the College of Science, said there are four specific areas his college focuses on while allocating donations, including outreach programs and undergraduate research support.
By setting specific priorities, the college knows where it wants money to go, but an exact amount does not need to be met each year, Logan said.
“”Development is really all about the donors,”” Logan said. “”They tell us where they want the money to go. They are really driving the bus here.””
It is hard to get all 13 departments in the College of Science actively involved in fundraising, Logan said, even though it would be beneficial because the departments profit from their efforts.
The annual report ranked Harvard University first, bringing in $28.9 billion, and Yale University second, with $18 billion.
Arizona State University raked in $394 million, ranking 144 on the list.
