September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 1

FUNDRAISING;some approaches

Janine Schmidt

University LibrarianUniversity of Queensland

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 2

Overview

Australian universities and their funding baseAustralian university libraries and their traditional income sourcesCost pressuresFunding from benefactionThe library as enterprise Other fundraising venturesChanging the focus

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 3

Australian UniversitiesAll different

• Group of 8 (Sandstone universities)• 12 regional universities • Australian Technology Network (5)• Innovation & Research Universities (Gumtrees) (5)• New Generation Universities• Teaching and learning/research orientation

Multi-campus, some with overseas or off-shore campuses or programsIncreasing numbers of fee-paying studentsStudent numbers vary: 1,000 – 40,000Being reviewed to death

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 4

Funding BaseFederal government funding - formula

Based on student numbersDisciplinary basisIncludes capital component for buildingsIGS, RTS, RIBG

Student feesInternationalDomesticHECS (Higher Education Contribution Scheme), PELS HELP (Higher Education Loan Program)

Research GrantsARC (Australian Research Council)NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council)

State government, benefaction, investment income etc.

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 5

Australian university libraries and their traditional income sources

Fixed percentage of total university incomeOff the top, component of a group 4% - 10%, average 4.7%Operating grant, fees, research, overheadsHistorical, programSpecial initiativesOne line budget/allocations for staff/materials etc.Library funded at expense of others Negotiation and marketing crucial –

cap in hand, begging bowl

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 6

Cost pressures24 x 7E-everythingLibrary materials costs increase constantly by more than the CPISalary increases not compensated by income increasesVolatile floating currencyAdditional responsibilitiesConvergence with other parts of university?

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 7

Funding from benefactionPositions

Ongoing salary

BuildingsLaw firms, individual lawyers contributing to law library

Annual appealsLibrary as a beneficiary one yearLibrary as special category every yearSpecial activity, service

• Equipment for disabled• Computers for disadvantaged

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 8

Funding from benefaction

Special eventsSydney’s 150th

Purchase of expensive itemsILMSDatabases, journals

Purchase of hardwarePDAs, servers, laptops

Exhibitions, displaysContinuingShort term

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 9

Funding from benefaction

Whole or partial collectionsCultural gifts program – tax incentives

Conform to Collection Development Policy

Valuations

Disposals?

Adopt-a-book, journalPreservation

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 10

The benefactorsAlumniGraduandsWealthy individualsGrateful clientsCorporationsFamilies, in honour of ….Friends, in honour of…VendorsAnyone and everyone

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 11

The benefits for the benefactorsNaming rights

Buildings, positions, rooms, shelves, chairs…Something lasting

Public recognitionSplendid launch – premier, governor, royaltyGovernment/politicalOn wall, honour board, in catalogue, on letterhead, on equipment, website, mouse mat…Press release, publication in newsletterPhotographCyberplaques

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 12

The benefits for the benefactors

CorporationsFit

• Community service obligations• Strategic• Product, service

MarketingEmployee relationships

Sliding scale of recognitionPlatinum, gold, silver

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Benefactor interests

Association with success

Involvement with young people

Specialist areas related to business or personal interests

Disenchantment with education?

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 14

How does one obtain gifts?One has to ask – and sometimes that is all it isWork with Development OfficeEmploy one’s own Development staff?Estate inheritancePrepare detailed proposals outlining benefits for library and for donor

Target and research potential donorsSales documentPress the right buttons

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 15

Obtaining gifts through relationship marketingLong-term

Use people of influence to helpFriends groups

Foundations – arms length

Cultivation through invitations, wining and dining

Maintain relationship, e-mail contacts, Christmas cards

Develop the proposal, identify the benefits, do the ASK

Tailor the website

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 16

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 17

The library as enterpriseEarn funds through fee-based services

Business information servicesTraining (internet, computing)

PublicationsNewslettersBooks

Hiring of facilitiesSale of memorabilia

Postcards, umbrellas, graduation photographs

CafesPrinting, copying

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 18

The library as enterprise

Community use

Alumni use

Training programsInternational

Specialist groups eg teacher librarians

Consultancy

Document delivery?

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 19

Other fundraising ventures

Regulatory regimesFines

Specialist client groupsTours

Grant applicationsARCPhilanthropic organisations

Sale of collections?

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 20

IssuesTime takenConfusion between free and fee servicesPotential loss of focusLack of knowledge and skillsCurrent culture of giving

SportCats and other animalsHealth WelfareArt and music

Libraries not sexy enough

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 21

Changing the staff focus

All library staff expend funds

All library staff are accountable

Journey to entrepreneurial and fundraising activities is not easy

Skill up staff

Develop marketing approach

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 22

Changing the focus

It takes money to make moneyLeadership – appropriate support from above and belowSelling and communication strategiesPromotional publicationsLook good – facilities, etc.Imagination, innovation, motivation required

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 23

You can have a good University without a good library but you can’t have a great university without a great library.

September 2003 CAUL Meeting, Cairns 24