ALADN 2015Click to see the slides that accompanied these presentations.
A Double Challenge: How the Most Popular Place on Campus Succeeds without Alumni or Foundation Staff
Pattie Piotrowski (Illinois Institute of Technology)
What’s a library to do when they’re faced with a double whammy: no list of alumni to contact and no dedicated foundation staff to assist in securing donors and gifts? The answer is to build as many partnerships as possible and lay the groundwork for a future that could change with circumstances. We need to be ready for every future opportunity. This presentation will discuss how IIT strategically reorganized, crafted successful projects, engaged University Trustees and enhanced library space while creating a strong culture of assessment. The presentation will include our plans for the future.
Athletics and Library Partnerships
Kurt Cumiskey (Duke University), Gay Jackson (Ohio State), Carlos Terrazas (Northwestern), and Antonia Vassar (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Most university athletic departments support their student athletes with services like tutors. Some, however, contribute to the academic success of all students by supporting the libraries. From sharing a portion of ticket and apparel sales to high profile coaches pitching the libraries, there are many ways athletic departments can support their university library.
Conversations About Money; Understanding it, Finding it, and Talking about It
Danielle R. Dawson, J.D., MBA (UC San Diego)
Ever have a donor tell you that she “wishes she could do more” or that he “just doesn’t have the money right now?” How did you respond? Did this end the conversation? Effective fundraisers welcome these statements and understand that they are just the beginning of a much greater conversation. Through a series of case studies, examples of collaborations, and an overview of some of the most common gift vehicles, this presentation explores what to say next and how to introduce gift planning concepts to donors who care so much about the cause you represent.
Expanding Reach: Growing Alumni Engagement at a National Scale
Rachel Karwas & Courtney Foat (University of Kansas)
How do you evolve your library’s advancement and alumni engagement program so it not only grows, but thrives within the changing landscape of your institution? After establishing a strong local donor base, KU Libraries was faced with that very question, and eager to begin cultivating outside its back yard. The organization developed an ambitious plan to adapt its engagement strategies—scaling to a national level through an invaluable partnership with KU Alumni Association. The presenters will provide an overview of the strategy and assessment behind KU Libraries’ national engagement program, as well as the suite of implementable and proven outreach tactics they’ve used.
Fundraising Conversation and Context
Lauren B. Collister & Julie M. Seavy (University of Pittsburgh)
Linguists have studied different styles of conversation and their connection to culture, power, and context. Building on the seminal work of sociolinguist Deborah Tannen (1986, 2005), we will apply her framework of involvement and considerateness in conversational style to fundraising conversations and contexts. We will make use of linguist Susan Steinbach’s (2005) sports metaphors (conversation as rugby, bowling, golf, and basketball) to illustrate how these styles function in conversation, then discuss the particular style aspects that may be relevant in fundraising contexts. This discussion will be followed by recommendations for fundraisers who interact with people of all cultural backgrounds and how to accommodate to the styles that they use. We will also invite members of the audience to contribute their strategies for interaction with donors who use different conversational styles.
How to Develop and Harness the Potential of your Library’s Board
Christina Muracco and Christina Morrison (Smithsonian Libraries)
A library’s board is as unique as the library it supports. A successful board should frequently evaluate its priorities, committees and membership to adapt to the changing needs of the library it supports. How to keep your board interested in your library’s cause and effectively champion your library. It also provides tips on retaining the volunteers that you have recruited
Introduction_To_Library_Development
David Duer and Gabrielle Gillard (UC Berkeley)
This session will provide an overview of development for libraries. This discussion will provide an overview of development for libraries, including the building of relationships and the identification of library priorities and partnerships for fundraising. It will provide ideas you can start using right now – and skills to cultivate for the ‘ask.’ Learn to use the resources you have to the best advantage, no matter the size of your institution. Discover how to best represent your library to potential donors and what to look for to engage library partners.
Planning and Launching a Major Capital Campaign: Strategies and Best Practices
Carolyn Henderson Allen (University of Arkansas)
Dean Carolyn Henderson Allen of the University of Arkansas Libraries will present best practices and tips gleaned from the monumentally successful Campaign for the Twenty-First Century (2004) and from current planning for the upcoming Campaign for Arkansas (2016). Areas covered include assessing needs to determine strategic campaign goals, engaging campaign partners and advocates, and crafting a campaign strategy.
Rare Wine, Rare Books, Vintage Fundraising
Dave Richards (Missouri State)
This presentation will introduce event planning showcasing a library’s rare books, archives, and special collections. The program provides an overview of MSU’s successful Rare Wine, Rare Books event, introduce the planning and budget for the event, how to line up sponsors and attendees, and how to use special collections for signature events. Since 2010, MSU’s Rare Wine, Rare Books dinner and wine social pairs up rare books and manuscripts with wine varietals. (For example, French wine with French Literature.) The three-hour event brings together prospective donors, rare book lovers, and wine connoisseurs. Although labor intensive, the event can be easily replicated and tailored to fit nearly any special collections theme.
Using Special Events to Strengthen Fundraising for your Library: Those Cocktail Napkins will get you Every Time
Harriet Teller (University of Michigan)
Special events provide an excellent way to engage new donors and strengthen relationships with current donors. Before scheduling it, library development staff need to determine what the goal for an event is, and then continue to focus on the goal throughout the planning stages, during the event, and in the days, weeks, and months following it. This presentation will concentrate on ways to maximize the impact of special events in order to strengthen fundraising for your library.
Voices for Libraries: Three Donors, Three Stories, Three Paths for Philanthropy
Charlene Baldwin & Essraa Nawar (Chapman University)
Dean of Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University, Charlene Baldwin will moderate a panel of three donors that have three different stories that kept them interested and connected to the Leatherby Libraries throughout the years. Mrs. Joann Leatherby, the founding donor of the library who remains involved and engaged in the library and its activities; Mrs. Margaret Class who named our yearly Student Book Collection Contest in addition to giving the library a collection of rare books and materials, as well as Mr. Mike Brown’06, a young entrepreneur who founded his business while he was studying in the library years ago and has recently connected back to the library by telling his story and inspiring people to get connected to the library’s special collections and treasures.
A Tale of Two Cities: Marketing and Development Strategies in Different Library Environments
Mark Stover (CSU, Northridge) and Marianne Ryan (Northwestern University)
This presentation compares and contrasts library marketing, development, and fundraising strategies at two different types of academic libraries: a large, public, comprehensive university library (California State University, Northridge) and a mid-size, highly selective private research university library (Northwestern University). Differences between the two institutions’ approaches are highlighted, but similarities are also discussed. Some of the issues examined include the responsibilities of public relations and development staff, the role of library philanthropic advisory boards, the relationship with Central Development, prospect research, donor cultivation, relationship building, communication, hospitality, and special events.