External Library Relations: Working with Your University Cousins

1
External Library Relations Working with Your
University Cousins

Dwain Teague University of Central Florida
Libraries

• ALADN Pre-conference
• March 6, 2005

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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

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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

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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.

5
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.

6
Collaboration Lets 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.

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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.

8
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 youre about to call isnt
  managed by someone else.

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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.

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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.

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In Conclusion Thats a Wrap!!

• Dont 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.

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Group Discussion Can We Talk??

• Handouts
• Stories from the trenches
• Additional tips or suggestions
• How to incorporate these suggestions into your
  organizations structure.