Campaign Q & A
Q. What is a fundraising "campaign?"
A. A fundraising campaign is a focused effort to increase private support
for a particular purpose - in this case, George Mason University - in a specified
period of time. Through an organized effort by the university administration and
community leaders, George Mason's varied funding priorities have been organized
around a central theme to create excitement and encourage participation.
Q. Is this a capital or a comprehensive campaign? How are they different?
A. This is a comprehensive, not a capital, campaign. A capital campaign seeks
support exclusively for large capital projects, such as buildings or endowments.
While George Mason's campaign will raise support for those types of projects,
it will go further and seek support for current operations and ongoing programs.
It is also comprehensive in the sense that it will involve every academic unit
and include all types of gifts - such as planned gifts, in-kind gifts, and pledges - from
faculty and staff, alumni, friends of the university, foundations, corporations,
and other organizations.
Q. What are the campaign's objectives?
A. The campaign seeks to raise private support for strategic priorities that
have been identified across the university (see funding priorities next column);
and serve as a vehicle to develop a major gifts fundraising program within each
school and college that will be sustained beyond the campaign's conclusion.
Q. What is the campaign's dollar goal and why is it important?
A. The dollar goal is to raise more than $110 million in private support.
Because early gifts have provided such a strong launch to the campaign, it is
hoped that the final total will exceed the goal. The dollar goal is important
as a cumulative reflection of the campaign's progress and the thousands of gifts
that have been contributed.
Q. What is the campaign timeline and how much has been raised to date?
A. Over the past several years, the Campaign Committee has been planning and
making early solicitations for campaign gifts. During this "quiet" or planning
phase of the campaign, $78 million was raised, setting a challenging pace for
the remainder of the campaign. The "public" phase of the campaign was launched
April 6, marked by a kickoff dinner for major donors and other community leaders.
The campaign's conclusion is June 30, 2005.
Q. What are the campaign's funding priorities?
A. The following funding priorities have been identified for the campaign:
- Faculty endowment, $18 million
- Faculty research and project support, $60 million
- Student scholarships, $10 million
- Student services and programs, $1 million
- Facilities support, $10 million
- Community outreach programs, $1 million
- Unrestricted support, $10 million
Q. How were these funding priorities identified?
A. Priorities were identified after many months of dialogue between members
of the university administration - president, provost, deans, and the President's
Council - and then were reviewed and approved by the university's Board of Visitors
(BOV). Decisions were based on a balance between the needs of the academic units
and the programs and projects of interest to donors.
Q. Is there any flexibility in these priorities as the campaign moves forward?
A. There are major projects that are targeted as high priorities; but to take
advantage of unexpected opportunities, there is some flexibility. Any changes,
however, must be approved by the university administration, beginning with the
deans and vice presidents.
Q. How will campaign gifts benefit the university?
A. Some gifts, such as funds for scholarship support or Academic IV, touch
the university in a broad and general way. But most gifts are restricted to particular
projects, such as Arthur and Elizabeth Kellar's gift to establish the Kellar Center
or the gifts targeted to the Center for History and New Media in response to the
National Endowment for Humanities challenge grant. Restricted gifts may not be
felt throughout the university, but do contribute to George Mason's pursuit of
its overall mission.
Q. Will planned, or deferred, gifts be counted during the campaign?
A. Yes, under certain circumstances, planned gifts - such as bequests, trusts,
and annuities - are a priority in the campaign and are encouraged. Planned gifts
are an excellent way to meet endowment needs. A donor who wants to make a significant
contribution but may not be able to do so through a cash gift may decide to make
an estate gift. Such gifts can even result in a more beneficial tax situation
for the donor.
Q. How can faculty and staff participate in the campaign?
A. Faculty and staff are considered "ambassadors" for the university and,
as such, can communicate to the community about the university's vision for its
future and the critical role private support plays in making that future a reality.
Equally important is the role of faculty and staff in developing specific funding
proposals, and these individuals will work closely with university development
officers.
Q. Will faculty and staff be asked to give to the campaign?
A. Through payroll deduction and other methods of giving, many faculty and
staff are donors to the university, and their gifts will be counted in the campaign
total. Such contributions are always voluntary and dependent on an employee's
personal decision.
Q. Who is responsible for conducting the campaign?
A. The campaign is directed by a 21-person committee chaired by Sid Dewberry
and including President Merten and members of the BOV and the George Mason University
Foundation Board of Trustees. The committee works closely with the deans, vice
presidents, and development staff. (See story on Leadership Committee on page
4 for a list of members.)
Q. Where can I go for more information?
A. A new web site, www.campaign.gmu.edu,
provides a campaign overview, progress reports, ways to give, and much more. For
more information, call the Office of University Development at (703) 993-8850
or e-mail campaign@gmu.edu.
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