Multi-Million Dollar Success: Redefining Comprehensive Fundraising at an HBCU-Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar, led by George Cotton Sr., Vice Chancellor for Advancement at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), shared strategies for transforming fundraising at HBCUs, focusing on comprehensive approaches tailored to smaller institutions. UAPB, the oldest and largest public HBCU in Arkansas, serves mostly first-generation students from low-income backgrounds, emphasizing access and social mobility.<br /><br />Key takeaways included shifting from traditional fundraising models to prioritize major gifts from corporations and foundations rather than relying heavily on alumni small gifts. Cotton advocates dedicating 55% of gift officers' time to corporate/foundation relations, 20% to donors capable of giving $20K+, and only 10% to smaller donors. Personalized outreach, consistent engagement (the "eight-touch process"), and building strong donor relationships were emphasized.<br /><br />Cotton highlighted the importance of flexibility for fundraising staff, investing in their compensation, and focusing on "bright shiny objects" or targeted initiatives to attract large gifts. Since adopting this strategy in 2019, UAPB raised $47 million, with over 60% from corporate/foundation sources, and increased their endowment from $18 million to $33 million.<br /><br />Unique HBCU challenges include smaller donor bases with limited capacity, high expectations, and limited state funding for capital improvements. Successful fundraising requires educating stakeholders, involving deans in proposal development, and maintaining open communication about realistic timelines for big gifts.

Keywords

HBCU fundraising

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

major gifts strategy

corporate and foundation donors

gift officer time allocation

eight-touch donor engagement

fundraising staff compensation

endowment growth

challenges at smaller HBCUs