Eastern Michigan University wants to grow annual fund-raising from $6M to $15M by 2015
Growing fund-raising from less than $6 million per year to $15 million per year by 2015 is part of the goal set by Eastern Michigan University as its Board of Regents prepares to sign a new 5-year operating agreement with the EMU Foundation.
The contract will come before regents at their meeting on Tuesday.
Pray-Harrold building on the Eastern Michigan University campus, which recently was renovated.
Regents extended a 1-year operating agreement with the foundation in April as it weighed whether it should be folded into university operations.
"The EMU Foundation has lagged behind its peers in fundraising success over the last eight years," according to a report by Thomas Stevick, vice president of advancement and executive director of the foundation.
Stevick said other Mid-American Conference schools in Michigan raise $12 million to $17 million per year.
"Our peers have doubled and even tripled our success in raising funds from alumni and friend donors, corporations and foundations," he wrote.
The study indicated that the foundation needs 'to strengthen our accountability methods and measures," Stevick wrote. "... There is no question that fundraising productivity and accountability are major concerns."
That study also concluded there would be "little cost savings" from chaging the structure and absorbing the foundation into university operations, according to documents.
However, as regents consider the 5-year contract, it does call for adopting a 5-year plan for raising fund-raising totals. If the contract is approved, representatives from both the regents and the foundation board would meet regularly to assess fund-raising performance.
Foundation staff also will receive target goals for their fund-raising. The foundation employs 30 and has a 52-member board of current and emeritus volunteers. Its annual cost for wages and benefits is $2.649 million.
Each college and department - including athletics - also would be responsible for reaching fund-raising goals. Stevick's report asks that fund-raising results be added to the performance evaluations for each dean and department head.
The increased fund-raising targets would start with the 2012 fiscal year, according to documents, when the foundation will be asked to generate $9.5 million. It generated $5.377 million in 2009-2010, down from $6.832 million a year earlier.
At the same time, the "draw" by both the university and the foundation is forecast to drop as a percentage of the overall endowment over the next 5 years. The university will go from 3.5 percent of the total to 3 percent, while the foundation will go from 3.25 percent to 1.5 percent.
The EMU Foundation oversees an endowment of $40 million as of June 30, 2010.
The regents will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday at 207 Welch Hall. The regular board meeting follows several committee meetings, which start at 1 p.m.
Read the report on the foundation.
Comments
Rootie Kazootie
Tue, Jun 21, 2011 : 1:09 a.m.
Too bad the typical EMU student either drops out (EMU has a 60% attrition rate) not to mention the fact that more and more students are "transfers" (from community colleges) who have no loyalty to EMU. Let's also examine tha fact that literally hundreds and hundreds of EMU staff also are EMU alumni, yet are subjected to a hostile work environment and/or bullying in the workplace. (Are you reading this, President Martin?) Why would these folks feel compelled to contribute? Guess what? They're not. EMU desperately needs a feasible strategic planning process that helps create a "can do" culture where staff aren't treated so poorly.
joe golder
Tue, Jun 21, 2011 : 12:29 p.m.
The list of people being treated poorly by EMU is growing.
Snehal Shah
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 4:33 p.m.
If I win the mega millions lotto, then I will donate $9 million to EMU.
15crown00
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 3:55 p.m.
sure i'll go out and pick 1,000.00 off the money tree and send it along. before u ask others for money cut all unneeded administrators and force "FULL TIME"FACULTY TO TEACH "FULL TIME"----that means 40 HOURS a week.writing and research can be done on their own time.
Marshall Applewhite
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 2:27 p.m.
I'm thinking EMU could easily hit this target if they changed their mascot back to the "Hurons". I bet if they could do it all over again, they never would have given in to PC pressures.
Concerned Citizen
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 1:41 p.m.
52 member board?! How can that be effective?
EMU Pride
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 1:27 p.m.
An ambitious target - but how will this be accomplished with no alumni relations department to lead the way? it stands to reason a strong alumni relations department is needed to assist the foundation in its goals ... alas, the director position has been vacant for arond six months and the assistant director position has been vacant for a year ... the department is run by a 20-something with no historical perspective nor experience EMU has a long tardition of apathy among its alumni, especially those who graduated between 1980 and 2000 "The EMU Foundation has lagged behind its peers in fundraising success over the last eight years," according to a report by Thomas Stevick, vice president of advancement and executive director of the foundation. well - duh!
stunhsif
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 12:42 p.m.
I used to give 100 bucks a year to my Alma Mater but cut them off several years ago. They've made too many poor plays to keep giving them my hard earned money. I will continue though to give some cash to the mens track and field program.
A2comments
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 10:35 a.m.
Actually 49.265, so 49.3...
rf9
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 11:11 a.m.
imo emu hasnt been emu since the early 90's when the nickname change took place hence the drop in $$$ and they want more ?
A2comments
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 10:30 a.m.
49.2% of what they raised went to salaries and benefits? How much was spent on fundraising? How does this compare to other non-profits?
cmadler
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 8:05 p.m.
Approx. $88k/employee total cost is not too bad, assuming they're all full time. What is outrageous as that the average funds raised were only $179,233 per employee. In other words, I don't think it's so much a problem of excessive spending -- though one might reasonably argue that 30 employees is over-staffing given the job they're doing -- as of under-performance.