Campaign Volunteer Guide

The campaign's ambitious $2 billion goal strengthens four key priorities: students, faculty, programs and facilities.

Campaign UW began in June 2000 with a four-year "quiet phase" during which the University focused on leadership gifts. So far, progress has been steady; the campaign reached its midway mark at the end of June with more than $1.14 billion secured.

With the help of alumni and friends, the University can reach its goal. As a volunteer leader, you are key to the success of the campaign. This guide is designed to help you understand, enjoy and succeed at the important work for which you have volunteered: asking prospective donors to invest in the University of Washington.

As many volunteers have extensive board and/or volunteer fundraising experience, the following points are meant to serve as a quick review of the campaign process.

Successful gift campaigns have a number of common elements:

• strong volunteer leadership
• effective organization
• specific goals and objectives
• a compelling case for support
• a favorable economic climate
• strong staff support

In addition, we know some things about how people give: people invest in institutions that have missions in which they believe; they invest because of civic pride and belief in the leadership.

Studies show that as much as ninety percent of any campaign total is raised from fewer than ten percent of the donors. The gift table for Campaign UW shows we will need 250 gifts of $1M or more with many thousands required at amounts less than $1M. That's why your role as a volunteer is so important: to help us with the few that will contribute the most toward our goal, as well as to help us reach out to the many who will help us achieve final success.

A strong case for financial support of an institution is important, but in the final analysis people give to people. Donors are more likely to give at higher levels when invited to do so by their peers. The example of leadership gift commitments from others, and particularly your own contribution, will have an enormous impact on the people you will be approaching.

Success during the quiet phase of a campaign sets the pace for those who follow and unquestionably establishes the level of giving for the rest of the campaign. Since the number of any institution's prospective donors of leadership gifts is limited, a special effort is made initially to persuade them to give in proportion to their capacity, before any broader-based efforts can begin.

This strategy does not diminish the importance of the entire University of Washington family contributing to the campaign - each individual at his or her own level. In this campaign every giving level is crucial. Total support of the Campaign for Washington is the goal.

Leadership gifts frequently require months or even years of cultivation before being realized. In fact, the average large gift requires a cultivation period of eighteen to thirty-six months.

As a campaign leader, you can help make friends for the University of Washington, and reinforce positive feelings that already exist. This is crucial, because friends are more likely to contribute. You may entertain at home, host small luncheons, or talk with potential donors at social events. Most leadership gifts are made by those who feel significantly aware of and personally involved in activities at the University of Washington. Cultivation is the process that brings potential donors closer to the University.

Thank you for being our guides, advocates and partners in this process to bring friends to the University and personal investment in its missions.