SUCCESS STORY
SUNY Brockport
Leading college in the State University of New York system reaches its goal of reputation recognition and improved philanthropic giving.
The Situation
SUNY Brockport is an inclusive learning community that inspires excellence through growth, engagement, and transformation. Featuring small class sizes, close-knit relationships with faculty, and Brockport Downtown, a unique extension of the main campus conveniently located in the heart of Rochester, the university provides great value to its constituents. It also serves an important role in the region by preparing the workforce of tomorrow. But when it came to stretch giving and philanthropy, the value offered by SUNY Brockport often went underappreciated.
The Solution
We partnered with SUNY Brockport on a Campaign Planning Study. To identify the “special sauce” that would help the institution rise to the top of donors’ priority lists, we identified five campaign pillars: unrestricted endowed scholarships, undergraduate research, global education, experiential learning, and The Fund for Brockport.
Our comprehensive Planning Study encompassed a variety of projects, including an electronic survey, preliminary Case for Support and table of gifts, and prospect pool development. We also conducted multiple in-person discussions with staff, administration, and academic and volunteer leaders in order to assess the college’s systems and processes, staffing, and existing fundraising programs.
The Success
Among the detailed recommendations and findings in our interim and final reports: the influential nature of SUNY Brockport’s leader, Dr. Heidi Macpherson, who was respected among alumni and the College community for her leadership, vision, and enthusiasm. By implementing support structures that would allow President Macpherson to play a central role in a campaign, she would be enabled to harness donor enthusiasm and elevate philanthropic growth.
Through the knowledge gained in Graham-Pelton’s Campaign Planning Study, SUNY Brockport moved forward into a new era of growth and engagement, with a full kit of customized tools to help them set up their upcoming campaign—and any that come after it—for success.
