Ohio University’s fundraising call center has hit its million-dollar mark about a month sooner than usual and expects to raise about $1.15 million before the end of the fiscal year.
An experienced group of student callers have contributed to the spike in pledges, said Jennifer Bowie, director of development for University Advancement, OU’s fundraising department.
“We have a group of really well-trained callers who have worked for us for a long period of time,” she said. “… The longer (callers) are on staff the better they can connect with alumni on the phone.”
The OU Foundation’s call center employs about 50 students and one full-time professional manager.
Alumni donations raised through the call center go toward discretionary spending for OU’s colleges and support units and can pay for scholarships, new equipment, internship support and study abroad, Bowie said. Callers also ask parents of current students to donate to a Division of Student Affairs fund, which includes money for student leadership development as well as an emergency fund.
“The call center touches more alumni than any other program we have at the university, and it’s a great way for alumni to stay in touch,” Bowie said. “The callers have great conversations … whether or not they make a gift. I’m just really proud of what they’ve accomplished this year.”
For the past five years, the call center has raised an average of $1 to $1.2 million per fiscal year. Bowie said she expects the center to have about $1.15 million in pledges before July 1, the start of fiscal year 2012. That projection might fluctuate and is based on how many calls the center has left to complete, Bowie said.
— Pamela Engel
@ThePostCampus
