Office of Communication and Public Affairs

The Campaign for Villanova enjoys early momentum
Burton Lane and Chris Kovolski

Campaign’s ultimate goal, timeline for kick-off, and confirmation of funding priorities will be determined in 2003.

With more than two years of planning and early solicitation complete, Transforming Minds and Hearts: The Campaign for Villanova has enjoyed an impressive start. The University’s newest comprehensive fundraising effort is more than two-thirds through the quiet phase, a period of planning and solicitation in anticipation of a public Campaign announcement. Since the beginning of the quiet phase in January 2001, a significant amount of momentum has been generated through early commitments and enthusiastic support among alumni and friends for the University’s strategic funding priorities.

“The Campaign is off to a very successful start,” noted Gerald S.J. Cassidy, Esq. ’63, chairman of The Campaign for Villanova. “People are enthusiastic and are giving of themselves in remarkable ways.”

In remarks made recently about The Campaign, University president the Rev. Edmund J. Dobbin, O.S.A. ’58 said, “The University has benefited from an impressive number of new donors whose contributions, combined with continuing support from previous donors, have helped expand the donor base and generate momentum. This is particularly impressive in light of the economic and geopolitical challenges.”

Throughout 2003, Development staff and volunteer leadership will monitor key Campaign indicators and recommend to the University board of trustees an ultimate goal, timeline, and final determination of funding needs. They will be aided by a brief, targeted feasibility study to be conducted by Grenzebach, Glier and Associates, a national consulting company specializing in fundraising.

The study is designed to gather feedback from a select group of alumni and friends regarding their feelings about philanthropy in light of the current economy and world events. This feedback, along with continuing quiet phase activity, will help to determine the size and scope of Villanova’s fundraising efforts.

While economic and international news has affected charitable giving around the country, the early stage of The Campaign for Villanova has benefited from three elements:

More than $72 million—36 percent of the working goal of $200 million—has come in during the first two years. “We are confident that The Campaign will secure 40 percent of its goal by December 2003,” noted Cassidy. Forty percent is the recommended benchmark for capital campaigns during their quiet phases prior to a public campaign announcement. “Our challenge is to use this early momentum to surpass that benchmark.”

Meeting that challenge will depend greatly on The Campaign’s volunteer committees. Under the leadership of the Steering Committee, dedicated alumni, parents, and friends are being recruited to these committees to provide direction in key areas of The Campaign. In addition to the Steering Committee, three Campaign committees have been recruited and are actively engaged in helping to meet the University’s fundraising objectives: The Leadership Gifts Committee, which is responsible for helping to secure gifts at the $1 million and above range, is co-chaired by Steering Committee members James C. Curvey ’57 and William B. Finneran ’63. It has identified 62 prospects in the leadership gift range.

The Major Gifts Committee, which targets gifts in the $100,000 to $1,000,000 range, is chaired by Herbert E. Aspbury ’67. It will be aided by a study that The Campaign leadership has commissioned to consider re-focusing fundraising at this level from geographic regions to programs and colleges.

The Parents’ Committee, chaired by Patricia H. Imbesi, has recruited inaugural members and, during Parents’ Weekend in September, Ms. Imbesi and Father Dobbin hosted the first annual Parents’ reception. The Parents’ Committee is part of a University-wide initiative to expand parents’ participation in their sons’ and daughters’ Villanova experience and develop opportunities for cultivation.

Leadership giving: A collaborative approach in discussing leadership giving, John M. Elizandro, vice president for Institutional Advancement, pointed out that Villanova has consistently seen an increase in the size and frequency of leadership gifts. “This is significant because it demonstrates the success of Villanova’s collaborative approach as well as Villanovans’ increasing confidence in and commitment to The Campaign and the values it represents.”

The Campaign took a major step with the recent announcement that Terence M. O’Toole ’80 and his wife, Polly, had made a commitment of $2.5 million from a charitable foundation that they have established to endow the dean of the College of Commerce and Finance in the name of O’Toole’s parents, William and Helen O’Toole. The commitment represents the largest outright gift by an individual alumnus in Villanova’s history.

“The O’Toole’s commitment, as well as the commitments of so many other alumni, family and friends, have helped The Campaign achieve early success,” added Elizandro. “We anticipate that this success will lead to an exciting and ultimately successful third year of quiet phase activity in 2003 that will culminate in the launch of the public phase. However, as we move forward, we will continue to monitor the economic climate and world events, and gauge their impact on the University and its extended community.”

	Blueprints - April 2003 Edition
Homepage Back Archives	Blueprints - April 2003 Edition

		The Campaign for Villanova enjoys early momentum Burton Lane and Chris Kovolski Campaign’s ultimate goal, timeline for kick-off, and confirmation of funding priorities will be determined in 2003. With more than two years of planning and early solicitation complete, Transforming Minds and Hearts: The Campaign for Villanova has enjoyed an impressive start. The University’s newest comprehensive fundraising effort is more than two-thirds through the quiet phase, a period of planning and solicitation in anticipation of a public Campaign announcement. Since the beginning of the quiet phase in January 2001, a significant amount of momentum has been generated through early commitments and enthusiastic support among alumni and friends for the University’s strategic funding priorities. “The Campaign is off to a very successful start,” noted Gerald S.J. Cassidy, Esq. ’63, chairman of The Campaign for Villanova. “People are enthusiastic and are giving of themselves in remarkable ways.” In remarks made recently about The Campaign, University president the Rev. Edmund J. Dobbin, O.S.A. ’58 said, “The University has benefited from an impressive number of new donors whose contributions, combined with continuing support from previous donors, have helped expand the donor base and generate momentum. This is particularly impressive in light of the economic and geopolitical challenges.” Throughout 2003, Development staff and volunteer leadership will monitor key Campaign indicators and recommend to the University board of trustees an ultimate goal, timeline, and final determination of funding needs. They will be aided by a brief, targeted feasibility study to be conducted by Grenzebach, Glier and Associates, a national consulting company specializing in fundraising. The study is designed to gather feedback from a select group of alumni and friends regarding their feelings about philanthropy in light of the current economy and world events. This feedback, along with continuing quiet phase activity, will help to determine the size and scope of Villanova’s fundraising efforts. While economic and international news has affected charitable giving around the country, the early stage of The Campaign for Villanova has benefited from three elements: • The broadening donor base • Momentum in giving and volunteer participation • Giving at the leadership level ($1 million and above) Broadening donor base, with each capital campaign, more Villanovans see the benefits of a strong endowment. As a result: • Nearly one-third of the individuals who have already made commitments at the $1 million level and above did not make a commitment to the previous capital campaign • The goal for contributions at the $100,000 range has been exceeded, and 81 percent of donors at this level are new donors to Villanova More than $72 million—36 percent of the working goal of $200 million—has come in during the first two years. “We are confident that The Campaign will secure 40 percent of its goal by December 2003,” noted Cassidy. Forty percent is the recommended benchmark for capital campaigns during their quiet phases prior to a public campaign announcement. “Our challenge is to use this early momentum to surpass that benchmark.” Meeting that challenge will depend greatly on The Campaign’s volunteer committees. Under the leadership of the Steering Committee, dedicated alumni, parents, and friends are being recruited to these committees to provide direction in key areas of The Campaign. In addition to the Steering Committee, three Campaign committees have been recruited and are actively engaged in helping to meet the University’s fundraising objectives: The Leadership Gifts Committee, which is responsible for helping to secure gifts at the $1 million and above range, is co-chaired by Steering Committee members James C. Curvey ’57 and William B. Finneran ’63. It has identified 62 prospects in the leadership gift range. The Major Gifts Committee, which targets gifts in the $100,000 to $1,000,000 range, is chaired by Herbert E. Aspbury ’67. It will be aided by a study that The Campaign leadership has commissioned to consider re-focusing fundraising at this level from geographic regions to programs and colleges. The Parents’ Committee, chaired by Patricia H. Imbesi, has recruited inaugural members and, during Parents’ Weekend in September, Ms. Imbesi and Father Dobbin hosted the first annual Parents’ reception. The Parents’ Committee is part of a University-wide initiative to expand parents’ participation in their sons’ and daughters’ Villanova experience and develop opportunities for cultivation. Leadership giving: A collaborative approach in discussing leadership giving, John M. Elizandro, vice president for Institutional Advancement, pointed out that Villanova has consistently seen an increase in the size and frequency of leadership gifts. “This is significant because it demonstrates the success of Villanova’s collaborative approach as well as Villanovans’ increasing confidence in and commitment to The Campaign and the values it represents.” The Campaign took a major step with the recent announcement that Terence M. O’Toole ’80 and his wife, Polly, had made a commitment of $2.5 million from a charitable foundation that they have established to endow the dean of the College of Commerce and Finance in the name of O’Toole’s parents, William and Helen O’Toole. The commitment represents the largest outright gift by an individual alumnus in Villanova’s history. “The O’Toole’s commitment, as well as the commitments of so many other alumni, family and friends, have helped The Campaign achieve early success,” added Elizandro. “We anticipate that this success will lead to an exciting and ultimately successful third year of quiet phase activity in 2003 that will culminate in the launch of the public phase. However, as we move forward, we will continue to monitor the economic climate and world events, and gauge their impact on the University and its extended community.”