UA FUND-RAISING WINS PHILANTHROPY AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) has announced that the University of Arkansas is a winner of its 2001 Circle of Excellence in Educational Fund-Raising Award. The award honors model fund-raising programs across the country. CASE has selected the University of Arkansas for its overall fund-raising improvement over the past four years.

The University is joined by only two other institutions in the category of its peer public research/doctoral institutions: the University of Washington and Florida Atlantic University. The selection was based on the judges’ analysis of fund-raising data submitted to the Council for Aid to Education’s annual Voluntary Support of Education survey. To make these awards, CASE blindly reviewed data from 1,200 institutions organized in 20 different size and type classifications. The judges are senior development professionals and CASE volunteers.

            UA Chancellor John A. White said, “I’m thrilled that our development staff has been recognized by CASE for outstanding work. It speaks well of the teamwork and combined efforts of a great number of dedicated individuals each of whom have chosen to work toward making a difference in the future of the University of Arkansas by helping raise private gift support. Their efforts to build and strengthen relationships with our alumni and friends is critical and much appreciated.”

“This award reflects the hard work of the excellent fund-raising team we have put in place over the past three years. Their work to engage our deans and faculty with several of our most generous alumni and friends is helping to move the U of A forward,” said G. David Gearhart, UA vice chancellor for University Advancement. 

            Sandra K. Edwards, UA associate vice chancellor of University Development, said, “This award is special because it affirms that the University’s Advancement program is being recognized for its outstanding efforts by our colleagues across the country. It also shows that we are successfully building the foundation for a nationally competitive university. The real credit, however, goes to our wonderful benefactors and their dedication to the future of the University and its students, faculty and staff.”

            Criteria for the award were based on the pattern of fund-raising growth in total private gift support; evaluation of what contributed to the total support figure; overall breadth in program areas; pattern of growth in each program area; pattern of donor growth among alumni and other individuals; total support in relation to the alumni base; impact of the 12 largest gifts on total support; and the type of institution.

             The awards will be presented to UA representatives during CASE’s International Assembly in San Francisco in July.

            CASE is the world’s largest association of education advancement officers, who include alumni administrators, fund-raisers, public relations managers, publications editors, and government relations officers. The ultimate goal of advancement professionals is to enhance their institutions by bringing in support in the form of private gifts, alumni loyalty, public esteem or new students.