Development
Are YOU a Philanthropist?
Ibet you are! A definition of philanthropist is, “One who increases the well-being of humankind, as by charitable aid or donations.” In my job I work with philanthropists daily. I’m often surprised at how many people think they have to contribute zillions of dollars to make a difference in our college. Not true. Whether we create a fund and reach our goal in $25 increments, or establish a new professorship with a single $250,000 check, the end result is the same: We are carrying programs FACS Forward!
I recently had the pleasure of working with 106 philanthropists in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences Legacies in the Making campaign. They ranged in age from 24-96. Once these individuals realized that they could make a significant difference by pledging future dollars instead of today’s dollars, they became engaged and committed. I often heard the question, “How much is required to establish an endowment or a named fund?” and, “Do I have to give it all at one time?”
Consider the following:
Minimum endowment levels:
$10,000—Academic Support Fund
$25,000—Undergraduate Scholarship
$50,000—Graduate Scholarship
$250,000–Professorship
$1Million—Chair
These funds can be created over a five-year period. Any amount can be given by anyone at anytime to these funds. They can be named for someone else, which is a popular way to honor a loved one. The monies are invested wisely and only the earnings are spent annually. Gifts are tax deductible and can be given in a variety of ways best suited to the donor.
While the larger figures listed above speak to endowment giving, we are also in need of sustained annual giving. Much of our alumni programming is funded through private donations. Last year, 11 percent of our alumni made a gift. We need this number to grow so that we can move FACS Forward. Please look for your solicitation this fall in the mail and, more importantly, GIVE. Don’t wait on others to make growth happen. Be an agent of change. The College of Family and Consumer Sciences is a part of the University of Georgia but it is also a part of something more meaningful and personal. For thousands of College of Family and Consumer Sciences students and alumni, our college is a part of who we are and the life we have lived. There are more than 1,100 philanthropists listed in the honor roll in this issue. A few are pictured on this page. Picture yourself…..the next College of Family and Consumer Sciences Philanthropist!
| Katrina L. Bowers is Director of Development for the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. For more information on how to give a current or deferred gift, please contact Katrina at (706) 542-4946, by email at kbowers@fcs.uga.edu, or write to her at FACS, 224 Dawson Hall, UGA, Athens, GA 30602. |  |
