U of A Receives CASE Educational Fundraising Award for 2020

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas is the recipient of a 2020 CASE Educational Fundraising Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

The university’s award was for overall improvement in Public Research/Doctoral Institutions with endowments over $215 million. The U of A was joined by Mississippi State University, the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Delaware and the University of Montana Foundation in receiving this honor in this category.

“This recognition reaffirms what we have believed for years – that our alumni, friends and donors are truly incredible,” said Mark Power, vice chancellor for university advancement. “Their tremendous generosity and unwavering support of higher education drives our success. Our advancement team is equally important, and they have done an outstanding job promoting the priorities of the university and matching donors with initiatives that resonate with them. I am humbled to work with such a great team that has the best interests of the university and its students at heart.”

The University of Arkansas Division of Advancement includes University Development, University Relations, Donor Engagement and the Arkansas Alumni Association. All of the offices work together closely and collaborate – both within the division and with partners across campus – to accomplish the fundraising goals of the university. The division engages alumni, benefactors, external stakeholders and the campus community to promote understanding, diversity, advocacy and philanthropy to achieve the university’s mission.

The Educational Fundraising Awards issued by CASE annually recognize exemplary development programs based on a blind review of data submitted to the CASE Voluntary Support of Education survey. The overall improvement category is for colleges and universities that demonstrate significant program growth across three years of data.

Winners are not selected solely on total funds raised. Other factors are also taken into consideration, including:

• Patterns of growth in total support
• Evaluation of what contributed to the total support figure
• Overall breadth of fundraising
• Patterns of growth in gifts from sources including alumni, other individuals, corporations and foundations
• Impact of the 12 largest gifts on total support
• Giving to areas such as current operations, endowment and property/buildings
• Amount raised per student
• Amount raised relative to expenditures
• Alumni participation

“Whilst today we celebrate the schools, colleges and universities that embody the best in educational fundraising, we want to acknowledge the people who make such achievements possible,” said Sue Cunningham, CASE president and CEO. “Successful fundraising happens when everyone participates, from the staff and faculty to the institution’s leadership. This inspiring philanthropic engagement is guided by dedicated and professional development staff, and supported by generous volunteers. Collectively, we are advancing education – key to addressing the many serious challenges our world faces today.”

CASE believes in advancing education to transform lives and society. As a global nonprofit membership association of educational institutions, CASE helps develop the communities of professional practice that build institutional resilience and success in challenging times. The communities include, but are not limited to, staff engaged in alumni relations, advancement services, communications, fundraising, donor relations, government relations, marketing and student recruitment. CASE is volunteer-led and uses the intellectual capital of senior practitioners to build capacity and capability across the world.

CASE has offices in Washington, D.C., London, Singapore and Mexico City. Member institutions include more than 3,600 colleges and universities, primary and secondary independent and international schools and nonprofit organizations in 82 countries. CASE serves more than 90,000 practitioners.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 3% of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.