External Library Relations: Working with Your University Cousins ALADN Pre-conference March 6, 2005 Dwain Teague University of Central Florida Libraries

Challenges Facing Library Fundraisers  No set constituency  Library fundraising relatively new concept  Lack of understanding on behalf of other fundraisers  Central or de-centralized fundraising (are you a library or a Foundation employee?)  How we approach the Alumni Relations Office may differ from how we approach the Foundation/Development Office

What Will I Learn Today?  Tips for educating your colleagues campus-wide  Ways of involving your colleagues in library fundraising  Suggestions for making library fundraising a priority for your campus and/or Foundation

Get to know your colleagues – Working 9 to 5  Invite other fundraisers (as a group) to the library for a tour. Could schedule around a staff meeting.  Invite individual fundraisers to lunch and then a tour.  Attend all Foundation staff meetings. If not invited, consult with your Dean/Director as to how to overcome this problem.  Add them to your mailing lists.

Get to know your colleagues – After Hours  Invite fundraisers to all library events, and encourage them to bring their prospects/donors.  Attend University events (football tailgates, alumni events, other campus fundraising events.)  Attempt to take your prospects to these events as well.

Collaboration – Let’s All Play Nicely Together  Share ideas/strategic plans with other fundraisers. Ask for their suggestions.  Offer to assist other fundraisers when they have prospects on campus (library tours, meet the library director, etc.)  Offer complimentary Friends memberships/library cards.  Offer the library as a meeting place.

Collaboration (cont.)  Offer to go on calls with your planned giving staff.  Offer to make stewardship calls on behalf of your colleagues (especially when traveling.)  Offer to make cold calls to Foundation prospects who are unassigned.

Prospect Management – Can We Get a Manager on Aisle 5?  Learn the policies/procedures for managing prospects.  Utilize Foundation managed database to its fullest potential.  Enter call reports in a timely fashion, and be concise with your text.  Ensure the person you’re about to call isn’t managed by someone else.

Prospect Management (cont.)  What are the procedures for having data pulled from the database?  Work with your Annual Fund Office to coordinate library annual fund appeals.

Miscellaneous  Utilize the prospect research office.  Ask the Alumni Relations Office if you (the library) could be a focal point for an alumni meeting.  Strive to have library info in the alumni magazine.

In Conclusion – That’s a Wrap!!  Don’t be shy when it comes to the Foundation – tell them what you need.  Prepare for obstacles and questions.  Make these suggestions work within your structure.  Thank everyone for any assistance they provide.

Group Discussion – Can We Talk??  Handouts  Stories from the trenches  Additional tips or suggestions  How to incorporate these suggestions into your organization’s structure.