Homepage

Back

Summer 2003

Archives

Expanding donor base and increased leadership giving keep The Campaign for Villanova on track in challenging economic environment

Members of the Steering Committee for the University’s capital campaign, Transforming Minds and Hearts: The Campaign for Villanova, braved one of the snowiest pre-winter days in recent memory on December 5 to review Campaign progress and chart strategies for the critical third year of the quiet phase.

Despite the harsh weather outside, Committee members were treated to welcome news in the meeting: Villanova’s alumni, family and friends have come forward in impressive numbers during the first two years of the quiet phase of the University’s current capital campaign. At almost every level of giving, new donors have responded to the Campaign’s goals in a way not seen in any previous capital campaign at Villanova.

This and other positive news contributed to the overall sense of accomplishment at the fourth meeting of the Steering Committee in New York City. Campaign chairman, Gerald S.J. Cassidy, Esq. ’63, in opening remarks at the meeting, stated, “The Campaign has made significant progress during the first two years of the quiet phase. The hard work and dedication of volunteers and the amount of giving at all levels are strong indicators of this Campaign’s ultimate success. This is all the more impressive, given the challenging economic climate and world events.”

The report of gains in the donor base was part of a review of Campaign progress presented by John M. Elizandro, vice president for Institutional Advancement, to the Steering Committee. Elizandro noted, “Every level of giving shows that Villanovans have taken the goals of this Campaign to heart and are dedicated to seeing it succeed.”
Included among the indicators that the Committee discussed:
• Since December 2001, commitments at the $1 million level have increased by 70 percent
• Nearly one-third of the individuals who made commitments at the $1 million level and above did not make a commitment to the previous capital campaign
• The goal at the $100,000 range has already been exceeded, and 81 percent of donors at this level are new donors to Villanova
• The Campaign has achieved more than 32 percent of its working goal of $200 million, with nearly one-third of the Campaign timetable completed

In addition to the financial news, there was also positive news about the development of the volunteer committee structure. The Parents’ Committee, chaired by Patricia H. Imbesi, recruited eight inaugural families and hosted the first annual Parents’ reception this fall during Parents’ weekend. This is part an overall initiative to foster parents’ involvement with the University. The Leadership Gifts Committee, co-chaired by James C. Curvey ’57 and William B. Finneran ’63, has identified 62 prospects at this level. Giving at the Major Gifts level has seen a great deal of success. Continued formation of the Major Gifts Committee, chaired by Herbert E. Aspbury ’67, is currently awaiting results of a study that will consider re-focusing fund raising on specific colleges and programs rather than geographic regions.

At the end of the third year of the Campaign’s quiet phase, the Committee will use these and other key indicators in making its recommendation to the Board of Trustees about the ultimate financial goal, the timeline for a public announcement and a final determination of the Campaign’s funding needs. To ensure that the Steering Committee has the all the needed information to makes its recommendation, the University Development office has commissioned a brief targeted feasibility study to gauge levels of leadership giving during the next 12 months.

“We will have raised nearly $65 million by the end of the second year of the quiet phase. In looking at the third and final year of the quiet phase, we have to raise 40 percent of the working goal of $200 million or $80 million prior to the kickoff of the public phase next year. I am confident we will meet that number,” noted Elizandro. “Our goal is to surpass that benchmark during the next 12 months.”

The Campaign took a substantial step closer to that goal with the announcement by Cassidy at the end of the meeting of commitment from Terence M. O’Toole ’80 and his wife, Polly, to endow through a charitable foundation they established the dean of the College of Commerce and Finance. This gift of $2.5 million is the largest single outright commitment made by an individual in Villanova’s history (see accompanying article). In announcing this gift, Cassidy noted, “This kind of commitment establishes a new and exciting chapter in giving at Villanova and takes us into the third year of the quiet phase with a momentum that will make this Campaign ultimately successful."