(04-19-2022 03:06 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(04-19-2022 02:35 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(04-19-2022 02:29 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  I disagree with some of the prior comments. The MAC is comprised of similar schools to NIU that have all shown the ability to go out and raise private funds. Ball State raised over $30 million last year, WMU just got a $500 million donation, CMU just finished a $100 million campaign, Bowling Green is on the back stretch of a $250 million fund raiser, and Kent State just launched $350 million campaign to name a few. These schools cater to many of the same students NIU does and have similar alumni bases.

When is the NIU campaign launching? How come all of these peer schools can raise money and NIU cannot? It takes quality leadership to navigate a large scale fundraising initiative and NIU seems to really be lacking in that area. I do no think it is an alumni problem. I think it is a leadership problem.

Agreed, we definitely have our fare share of successful and passionate alumni. It's a leadership problem. A more effective President and AD would go a long way.

I hope they launch NIU's major campaign soon, and I hope they keep the lofty 500 million goal they flaunted a few weeks back.

They need to shoot high and stay with a target like $500 million. Many MAC schools have been announcing record breaking fund raising efforts in recent years. Frankly, at this point NIU probably needs to launch one just to keep pace. Endowment, budget, enrollment, etc. is all sitting at or near the bottom of the MAC range. Many of the schools have made fund raising a priority in recent years and the results are really starting to show. Buffalo is probably the worst comp in the MAC but they are pushing up toward $1 billion raised in recent years.

Yes, fundraising is absolutely crucial these days. Universities with visionary leaders know that they cannot rely on government funding and tuition to meet all their needs as well as bank funds for future growth. A large portion of their funding needs to come from gifts. A living, viable, and active fundraising campaign is vital to the future of universities - more so than in the past. Universities with leaders in the know realize this and have been extremely active in their fundraising - alumni, individuals, corporations, etc. Endowments are a crucial element in the futures of these institutions. Many institutions understand this and are active in their pursuit of gifts. I'm not sure NIU is.