During class this week we examined one of the most critical components to running a athletics department - Development and Fundraising. Nothing can happen within an athletics department without donors and certainly not progression, which is crucial to a healthy department. The legendary athletic director, Andy Geiger, made it abundantly clear that the key to a strong development program is the relationships. Jennifer Cohen and O.D. Vincent then confirmed his statement and explained that making a donor feel appreciated is central to a good relationship, but to never forget that they are people first and then donors.
If your donors are integral to the success of you department, your friendships with your donors are the foundation of that success. There is nothing keeping a donor connected to an institution except goodwill. Ensuring that such goodwill remains strong is the fundamental duty of the development office. By fostering relationships development offices give them advantages when it comes to the actual asking of a gift. As an athletic administrator I will be sure that personable skills are at the top of the list when looking for qualified development officers.
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