Release Date: June 8, 2009
100 percent of staff members make charitable contributions
Fundraising campaign triples its goal despite rough economy and fears of furloughs
For media inquiries: Cheryl Anderson Brown, Director of Public Relations,
770-499-3417 or cbrown@kennesaw.edu
 |
Photograph by Natasha Lovelace-Habers |
KENNESAW, Ga.—The College of the Arts at Kennesaw State University set out to raise $10,000 by asking supporters—including , staff, students and alumni—to contribute just $10. Instead, it raised more than $34,000 over the six months of the campaign. Called the “10 for 10 Campaign,” the fundraising drive celebrated the tenth anniversary of the college’s creation.
“I am so thankful for the success of the campaign,” says Joseph Meeks, dean of the college. “We did not know what to expect when we set our target at $10,000. With so many people struggling in today’s economy, we were concerned that we might have set the goal too high, but we have received such generous support. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Some of the notable outcomes of the campaign include:
- 100% participation by college staff members;
- 85% participation by members;
- 22% participation by students;
- gifts ranging from 25 cents to $4,000; and
- 387 individual contributors, 305 of whom had never given to the college before.
During the campaign, the college experienced cuts in its state budget, the University System of Georgia added an additional $100 fee for each student, and fears about possible and staff furloughs began to rise. Instead of hurting the campaign, however, these concerns actually encouraged staff members to make contributions. “Even though my husband was laid off, I wanted to support the campaign because I wanted to make sure the students didn’t suffer,” says Brenda Curtis, a secretary, who had never given to the college before.
The relatively low-dollar request of $10 also resonated with supporters who previously had been intimidated about giving. “I never gave before because I thought you had to have a lot of money to be a donor,” says Brad Herring, a 2004 theatre and performance studies graduate who now works as the college’s auditorium manager. “Through the ‘10 for 10,’ I realized that even if you give a small amount, it can really have an impact.”
Students also wanted to participate. “From a student perspective, I think it’s important for students to learn early on to give back and to support their community,” says junior studio art major April Marten. “As artists in the future, we will be seeking supporters, so it’s important to demonstrate that we are charitable and that we are committed to our community.”
Donors were able to designate their gifts to support particular scholarships or programs in the college. Nearly half of the donors opted to give to scholarships or give to the Dean’s Fund, which is often used to help students who experience unexpected financial challenges.
“This campaign demonstrates that every dollar makes a difference,” Meeks says. “None of the ‘10 for 10’ donors could have made a $30,000 gift, but when they gave what they could, no matter how small it may have seemed to them, it added up very quickly to become a significant amount. We are so grateful to have this kind of commitment from our , staff, students, and alumni.”
The KSU College of the Arts has 35 scholarship endowments and receives additional charitable support from nearly 200 off-campus supporters annually. “Sometimes people think that, because we are a public university, we don’t need charitable gifts, but scholarships are critically important for our students. Building scholarship endowments is a top priority for the College of the Arts,” Meeks says.
All donations to the KSU College of the Arts are received by the KSU Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization.
The college offers nationally accredited degree programs in art, art education, dance, music, music education, and theatre and performance studies and presents more than 150 public arts events each year. For more information about the college, visit www.kennesaw.edu/arts or call 770-499-3214.
# # #
A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population of more than 21,000 from 142 countries. The third-largest university in Georgia, Kennesaw State offers more than 65 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including new doctorates in education and business.
The KSU College of the Arts is one of only four Georgia institutions to have achieved full national accreditation for all of its arts programs.