DSU Hosts 2nd Annual HBCU Philanthropy Symposium

DSU's Division of Institutional Advancement recently hosted a number of regional HBCUs at its second annual Historically Black College and University Philanthropy Symposium on July 24-25 in the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center.

The Symposium’s objective is to build a consortium of regional HBCU institutions to establish a process among the participating institutions in which philanthropic outreach solutions and best practices can be shared. Schools are thereby empowered to effectively address the challenges they face in fundraising. The consortium allows each institution to better leverage funding opportunity in an increasingly competitive market for philanthropy dollars.

The attendees of DSU's 2nd annual HBCU Philanthropy Symposium take time out for a group photo moment.

The keynote speaker this year was Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. "I applaud Delaware State University's leadership in convening a group of our public HBCUs to prepare themselves for fundraising success."

 

The keynoted share his sage perspective, noting that in order to attract significant donors, HBCUs to focus their work on things that matter “People with dollars want you to solve societal problems,” Mr. Taylor said. “We have to go out and reposition the work we do. Areas like national security, future water shortages and Africa, people will give you money for work in those areas.”

 

DSU Harry Williams addressed the symposium about the current state of HBCUs. 

 

Symposium attendees included the host school Delaware State University, Bowie State University, Cheyney University, Coppin State University, Lincoln University, Morgan State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the University of the District of Columbia.

 

The participants engaged in interactive dialogue to determine feasible initiatives that could immediately become collaborative efforts among all of the participating schools.  The most significant issues discussed were increasing student philanthropy and strategies to get more support from university presidents and trustees.   In addition, several strategies were discussed on how to increase annual giving, engage alumni, and strategically make asks for transformational gifts to the respective universities.

 

Representatives from Delmarva Power, JP Morgan Chase, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and CFRE International also participated in the symposium, sharing their knowledge as guest speakers and panelists.