Assignment: Alumni and Foundation:

The Foundation:

Since its incorporation in 1998, the Foundation's work has benefited student awards and bursaries, student services, instructional capital and facilities at all three of the College's campuses.

The Foundation has a mandate to:

- Generate public awareness and understanding of the Foundation and the College through the promotion of the organization and the achievements of its graduates;

- Direct all fundraising initiatives which serve to secure resources for St. Lawrence College;

- Direct the administration, investment and distribution of funds and resources raised or held in trust for the benefit of the College and its students

Foundation Initiatives:

The St. Lawrence College Foundation offers a number of opportunities for individuals or organizations to support the College:

- Give annually in support of Student Aid and Special Initiatives
- Make a gift in Memory or in Honour of a special person or occasion
- Participate in the St. Lawrence College Foundation Golf Tournament
- Create a Student Bursary or Award
- Make a gift of Supplies, Equipment or Corporate Shares
- Plan your legacy gift through a bequest, annuity or insurance
- Organize your Class, Co-Workers, Family to create a special joint gift project
- Make a leadership gift to enable a Capital or Special Project

"Common sense to an uncommon degree, is what the world calls wisdom"- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

In 50 years, St. Lawrence College has grown from a handful of students embarking on a bold new experiment in post-secondary education, to a community force - with 10,000 students and 88,000 alumni.

We are not any Community College. We are OUR Community's College.

Uncommon is the biggest, most ambitious campaign in our history. It sets the table for growth and innovation in our teaching and learning, enhances student life, and, as always, promotes collaboration with our communities.

Questions:

Tell us about the Alumni portfolio - and your Foundation - how do they link together?

What programs link strongest to your mission?

What is (or are) your offices' greatest assets?

What are your biggest challenges?

How do you make money - raise money?

Tell us about the UNCOMMON campaign.

What are your barriers to growth?

What are your biggest concerns moving forward?

What would you want your portfolio to look like if five years?

What College's or University's do you look up to for their Alumni and Foundation?

Who is on your Board (no names) - what are their skill sets/knowledge andwhat is the Board's strengths and weaknesses? Do you use special committees? Does your Board discuss long-term planning and do you do any development?

MAKE YOUR NOTES HERE:

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Opportunities:

Threats:

Current Situation Analysis: where are they today ...

Current revenue - and revenue generators:

Biggest expenses:

Biggest barriers to growth:

Biggest challenges in moving forward:

What area will you focus on this year - and the next two to three years:

Your notes:

So ... breaking it down, there are three (?) areas of concern/barriers to growth the Board, the ED and the Alumni Association and Foundation needs to address ...

OTHERS ...

What is the business problem, I want to address?

Your assignment:

1 - research - what do I know? ...what do we need to know? ...who is solving this - is there a college or university out there doing it?

2 - brainstorm - share what you know, (S+W we have) and where are the opportunities and threats ...

3 - best opportunities - bring the best ideas forward ... work them up, develop ideas/strategies - work them through to a few tactics (short-term, long-term - but everything should be forecasting to a long-term success)

4 - small, deliverable ... come up with a ‘step forward' ... something they could be doing now to make a difference

5 - write it up

Possible projects:

Improve communication with stakeholders for connecting with past alumni and attraction of new potential donors

Improve relationships with .... ?? surrounding municipalities, government, industry - which could result in stronger partnerships leading to gifts

How do we make an acting impact on students today - tomorrow, so we position ourselves for the gift in the future?

How do we connect with staff and faculty, present and retired to ensure future gifts?