Student Affairs Fundraising Series: Part 1 – Guest Blogger CeCe Ridder
February 18, 2009We are pleased to introduce CeCe Ridder, Director of Student Life for the McCombs School of Business, as a guest blogger. CeCe will be conributing a 5 Part Series on Student Affairs Fundraising over the next two weeks.
CeCe Ridder
CeCe has worked for The University of Texas at Austin for twelve years. She is currently the Director of Student Life at the McCombs School of Business, Undergraduate Program. Her position encompasses admissions, student organizations, scholarships, leadership and special events. CeCe’s home state is Nebraska, and she earned a bachelor’s degree from Nebraska Wesleyan in Interpersonal Communications, with a Public Relations focus. She has a Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel from Kansas State University and is pursuing a PhD in Educational Administration from UT. She is passionate about student development, leadership, multiracial college students and retention. CeCe is also a lead facilitator with LeaderShape.
Many schools overlook the myriad of opportunities to push our programs forward, involve the community, promote potential employers for students and to get something for free! Whether you need some free sandwiches or thousands of dollars to keep a program alive, there are potentials points of funding everywhere. Funding can also provide budget relieving dollars to other programs in your areas. With the current economy, who can pass up actually plugging in a source of income to an event budget?
Creeped out
When I first began pairing student affairs programs with corporate funding, I was really creeped out. But I realize that it’s tough out there right now. Schools are not securing as much funding from alumni, the state, donations etc etc. We have to be creative so we can provide the amazing programs that seem to be the first to go. If you can do this with a heavy dose of ethics, a little sales savvy and not entirely sell your department’s soul it can be done.
Benefits
Companies, from the local pizza joint to the large multi-nationals, want exposure. Think of ways that they can benefit from becoming involved with your event in some way. As my old boss used to say, “you have to spend money to make money” and most companies understand this.
1. Offer them a logo on a banner
2. Print out a sign with special thanks
3. Add them to the event website
4. Ask them to speak or welcome the audience if appropriate
5. Come up with levels of sponsorship and benefits to each
6. Or even go as far as to name the program after them (“The Ketchup Company Leadership Program) if that doesn’t creep you out.
So chew on what benefits that you might have for companies and next time, we’ll talk about where to begin and eventually get to using your benefit levels in writing a proposal.
Check back for Student Affairs Fundraising Part 2 by CeCe Rider Thursday, February 19!
-
Annemarie