University Of Arkansas Fund-Raising Wins Philanthropy Award Of Excellence

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., - The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) has announced that the University of Arkansas is a winner of its 2000 Circle of Excellence in Educational Fund-Raising Award. The award honors outstanding fund-raising programs across the country. CASE has selected the University of Arkansas for its overall fund-raising improvement over the past three years.

"This award reflects the hard work of the excellent fund-raising team we have put in place over the past two years. They have worked well to engage our deans and faculty with several of our most generous alumni and friends," said G. David Gearhart, UA vice chancellor for University Advancement.

Sandra K. Edwards, UA associate vice chancellor of University Development, said, "Receiving this award affirms that the University’s Advancement program is growing and successfully building the foundation for a nationally competitive university. The real credit goes to our wonderful donors and their dedication to the future of the University and its students, faculty and staff. The Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation gift of $50 million in 1998 made a significant impact on the University and is the major reason for the recognition we receive with this award."

The University is joined by six other institutions in the category of its peer public research/doctoral institutions. The selection was based on the judges’ analysis of the fund-raising data submitted to the Council for Aid to Education’s annual Voluntary Support of Education survey. To make these awards, CASE reviewed data from 942 institutions organized in 20 different size and type classifications.

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 the University of Arkansas’ representatives during CASE’s International Assembly in Toronto, Canada in July.

CASE is an international 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 money, alumni loyalty, public esteem, or new students.

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