Welcome Back to the Office, DAR! It has been wonderful seeing more of you, and I hope each of you is settling back into your work space. June’s year-end push yielded positive results. In fact, preliminary numbers indicate that we had an incredible year all around. We didn’t just hit our target Alumni Participation rate; we shot right past it! Early investment return estimates are +33%, which will likely be one of the highest, if not the highest, fiscal year investment return we have on record. A public announcement will go out next week with more details. In other exciting news, our division established a new unit. Welcome to Kyle Tschepikow who will lead the new Office of Business Engagement and Innovation beginning August 15 (additional updates to this webpage to come). I know there are big things to come from this team. As it says so eloquently in our Development narrative: To Bulldogs, tomorrow isn’t just another day. It’s hope. It’s potential. It’s a promise. That is certainly true here at DAR. I am grateful for all of you and your hard work. I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings! SIC 'EM, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the UGA Foundation
Upcoming Development and Division Meetings
DAR End of Year Celebration July 28 | 3 - 6 p.m. Reed Plaza (adjacent to Sanford Stadium)
Division Meeting Aug. 16 | 8:30 a.m. Georgia Center for Continuing Education
Division Meeting Nov. 15 | 10 a.m.
Learn from Experts Down the Hall
We Built This Board on Rock ’n Roll by Meredith Gurley Johnson 3 calendars in one? A new, easier way to submit events is coming by Clarke Schwabe The Accessibiliblog: Ensuring Web Accessibility by May Hitchings by Kathryn Kay Continue sending your DAR site blog posts to any DARCOMM communications team member!
DAR Kudos
New Collaborative Effort – The Road to Athens Challenge The Road to Athens Challenge is a Chapters, Development, and Annual Giving initiative to raise scholarship money and increase our alumni participation rate in strategic areas around the country. Any chapter with a scholarship fund that raises $15,000 and increases their local participation rate to 13% is provided an additional $10,000 for their fund from the UGA Foundation, guaranteeing that it meets the endowment threshold. These scholarships will help qualified students from the chapter's area make their way down the “road to Athens,” especially out-of-state students for whom financial aid is both important and difficult to come by.
Remote Learning Circles Wrap Up Remote Learning Circles connected DAR employees while working remotely. 150 individuals from across the division participated, forming 30 circles. Each circle’s theme brought colleagues together, but the real win is reflected in this feedback: “I enjoyed my circle and learned a great deal from our informal conversations. I loved creating new relationships with colleagues across the division that I might not otherwise know.” Congratulations to Kathryn Kay and Talent Management for organizing the successful endeavor.
Mark Your Calendars
PLC Insider Series: A Closer Look at Greek Life and Student Involvement July 27 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. Continuing its new PLC Insider Series, the Parent Giving Team will provide a “closer look” at Greek Life and other student activities at UGA. Designed with PLC members in mind, this event features presentations by Director of Greek Life Josh Welch and Director of Engagement, Leadership and Service Taylor Cain. Invite parents interested in joining PLC to this event. Contact Kate Lovin if you have questions or want to see a recording of a past event.
UGA Day with Atlanta United FC hosted by the UGA Alumni Atlanta Chapter August 15 | 4 p.m. | Mercedes Benz Stadium | Ticket Link $5 of each UGA ticket package donated to Atlanta Alumni Chapter Scholarship Fund ACT FAST – First 150 ticket purchases will receive a UGA + ATL United co-branded hat; the first 500 ticket purchases will receive a UGA + ATL United co-branded koozie. UGA Day with the Atlanta Braves hosted by the UGA Alumni Atlanta Chapter September 30 | 7:20 p.m. | Truist Park | Ticket Link $4 of each UGA ticket package donated to Atlanta Alumni Chapter Scholarship Fund. Ticket purchasers receive UGA + Braves co-branded hat.
Announcements
UGA Mentor Program Welcomes Faculty & Staff Mentors As of July 12, UGA faculty and staff can serve as mentors. Hear why your staff peers find mentoring rewarding and sign up today.
Donor Decal Changes Begin in FY22 Through June 30, 2021, it was standard operating procedure for Gift Accounting to include two donor decals in the envelopes of mailed gift receipts. Beginning July 1, 2021, these decals are longer included. Instead, language will be incorporated into gift receipts inviting donors to request a decal if they would like one. Gift Accounting will process the requests, and the Annual Giving office will fulfill them on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. This change is occurring in anticipation of eventually transitioning to electronic receipts for individual gifts. Contact Evan Tighe with questions.
New Alumni Board + President Yvette K. Daniels (AB '86, JD '89) became the 77th president of the UGA Alumni Association on July 1. Find out who else joined the board and enjoy a couple of videos about UGA's first Black female alumni president.
Collaboration Station: Wrapped Up for Now Collaboration Station was an enjoyable and effective way for schools, colleges and units to share fundraising priorities and opportunities for collaboration. Watch Franklin College's using passcode wq3@!jgV and the Libraries' using passcode L0HVN=sx. If you’d like to view past sessions, you can find the recordings in Teams.
Gift and Estate Planning
Since the beginning of GAIL, we have recorded planned giving interest using various methods. To streamline those efforts, the Office of Gift and Estate Planning has consolidated self-identifying donors using a new tile in GAIL that we are calling the PG tile.
Research and Prospect Management
Research and Prospect Management Continues Refreshers Join us the first Wednesday of every month at 10 a.m. via Zoom for RPM Refreshers. We discuss topics like the RPM Snapshot, metrics, quarterly agenda items, contact reports, virtual meetings and more.
Alumni Relations
Welcome to the City (In Person!) | Aug. 19 Chapter-led Welcome to the City events will take place nationwide, in person on or around August 19. These happy hour style events introduce young alumni and those who have recently relocated to the area with local alumni and chapter leaders.
Football Game-Watching Parties Never Bark Alone! Chapters will host game-watching parties during football season. In August, alumni.uga.edu will feature all the places where Bulldogs will gather this fall.
40 Under 40 Class of 2021 The Class of 2021 was announced July 15 and are invited to the 40 Under 40 Awards Luncheon on September 10 in Tate Grand Hall. While attendance is limited, honorees can purchase one table of four. Schools and colleges also may purchase one table of four. Following the luncheon that Friday, we will host a casual, drop-in-style reception at Wall & Broad from 4 to 6 p.m. This is an opportunity to engage honorees while they’re on campus. Please reach out to your constituents on the list and think about strategic ways to connect them back to their alma mater throughout the weekend. More details to come. Questions? Contact Nyaboke Machini or Kate Lantz.
SAC Welcomes New Members These students will plan events and programs that engage students, serve as ambassadors at various DAR events, and advocate for the Student Alumni Council's. Sophia Steed '24 Sun Mi Ntumba '23 Uche Onunkwo '24 Marillyn Heigl '23 Michael McDevitt '23 Ryan O'Donnell '24 Imani Davis '22 Larry Yan '22 Lauren Rogers '23 Felecia Ling '23 Hanay Waye '23 Holland Steward '22 Antavious McCarden '23 Austin Fabritius '24 Elaysha Brown '24 License Plate Campaigns A campaign to secure a UGA specialty license plate in Florida is live and runs through October 2022. Details here for alumni, donors, students and parents in the Sunshine State. A similar campaign in Tennessee begins this month. Questions? Email Sarah Sonenberg.
Advancement Services
New GAIL Feature: Request Constituent Update Do you ever come across outdated information in GAIL that you don’t feel comfortable updating yourself? We’ve created a useful shortcut for that exact situation.
Communications
Check Out the New UGA Alumni TikTok Account We recently posted a video promoting Freshman Welcome on Instagram that received 16,820 views and 1,698 likes. Its performance on TikTok, however, blew us away: 49,100 likes and 434,600 views, thus far. The TikTok version included a humorous narration from DARCOMM intern Sarah Dorr about what it's like to experience the event as a freshman, which undoubtedly contributed to its success.
DAR Fall '21 Marketing Projects DARCOMM spent the last few months finalizing marketing and communications project plans with units across the division. Final project lists are available to all division staff to view. Questions? Email Elizabeth Elmore.
Ever Wonder Why We Hold Kickoffs? Discover the strategy behind these important meetings and how you can help increase their value in Kickin’ It (Off): DARCOMM-Style by Elizabeth Elmore.
Learn tips for managing your email in this new blog from Zach Armstrong.
Content You Can (and Should) Use! Each month, DARCOMM staff, interns and freelancers develop new pieces of content that we hope you will share with appropriate audiences and in your own communications channels. Here are a few new things to share from June and July:
Career Center
Check Out the Career Center’s Year-in Review Please share these facts with your audience. Contact Whitney Prescott for details.
Career Center Plans for Fall 2021 We are excited to resume traditional student interaction and on-campus recruitment activities, including six in-person career fairs. We also will offer one all-major virtual career and internship fair and continue many of the virtual student engagement opportunities our employers have come to love.
Help Recruit a Diverse Mentor Pool The UGA Mentor Program continues to seek underrepresented students, alumni, faculty and staff to join the program. Encourage alumni mentors to use these social media graphics to inspire their fellow alumni to join.
Enhance Your Event and Engage Potential Mentors Reminder: You can request a UGA Mentor Program student ambassador to share about the program and their mentorship experience at your events. Request a student speaker.
Parent Giving
Summer New Student Welcome Events Continue To introduce parents of incoming students to parent engagement opportunities on campus (specifically the Parents Leadership Council), 19 New Student Welcome Events will be held this summer, both in person and via Zoom (see DAR calendar for details). These gatherings, a partnership between Parent Giving and the Regional teams, will provide a warm welcome to new families and start conversations about parent involvement at UGA.
Donor Relations
2021 PAWS Reception The Philanthropy at Work Society (PAWS) recognizes UGA faculty, staff, and retirees who go beyond in their commitment to the university by making an annual gift. Each fiscal year, donors are invited to the PAWS Reception to celebrate their commitment. This years' event is August 27.
Engagement Center
Engagement Center Seeking Sharp, Personable Student Reps Student representatives engage with alumni, parents, and friends on behalf of the university’s initiatives as well as school and college academic priorities. Refer candidates here for more information.
Regional Programs
The Regional team will be traveling to the following cities in July and August. (Exact dates and cities are subject to change.) Rob Carrico Dallas, TX (July 28-30) Richmond, VA (Aug. 10-13) Houston, TX (Aug. 24-27) Chris Jefts Tifton/Valdosta, GA (July 28-30) Rome/Dalton, GA (Aug. 10-12) Thomasville, GA (Aug. 24-25) Elizabeth Kozak Chattanooga, TN (July 19-21) Memphis, TN (July 26-28) Knoxville, TN (Aug. 4-5) Athens, GA (Aug. 15-18) Matt Mize Jacksonville, FL (July 20-21) St. Simons, GA (Aug. 4-5) Kentucky (Aug. 11-13) Natasha Radojcic Northern CA (Week of July 19) Arizona (Week of Aug. 2) Adam Roell Miami/Ft. Laud., FL (July 20-22) Alysse Whatley Long Island/Westchester, NY (July 22-24) (Aug. 2-6) Beth Zimmerman Greenville, SC & Asheville, NC (July 20-21) St. Louis, MO (Aug. 11-12) Charleston & Columbia, SC (Aug. 25-26)
Human Resources
Open Positions This is to make you aware of current position postings in the Development & Alumni Relations division. We encourage anyone interested in applying to do so. All UGA HR policies and procedures will apply. If you know of any potential candidates who may be a good fit for an opportunity, please contact Michelle Carter.
Working Title: Business Systems Analyst Posting: S05995P
DAR – College Relations – College of Veterinary Medicine Working Title: Senior Director of Development Posting: S06169P
Working Title: Associate Director, Employer Relations Posting: S06174P
Working Title: Analytics & Reporting Assoc. Posting: S06168P Working Title: Assistant Director of Career Center Diversity Programs Posting: S06368P
Working Title: Career Consultant Posting: S06369P
Working Title: Communications Associate Posting: S06421P
Working Title: Director of UGA Foundation Data Analytics and Internal Control Posting: S06246P
Transitions
Do you have information that you'd like included in the August or September edition of the Pulse? Send it to Emily Munnell.
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