New Stewardship Coordinator!

As one of our worst-kept secrets, we are thrilled to welcome Daynes Parker to our team as of December 15th as our new Stewardship Coordinator. Daynes joins us from Advancement Services, where she made many of our lives easier as the Analytics and Reporting Associate since 2015. In her new role, Daynes will bring her GAIL expertise to annual and special gift acknowledgements. She will also assist in expanding our ability to create personalized stewardship for top donors and lead new plans to acknowledge consecutive giving and gifts to the Georgia Fund, 1961 Club, and Chapters Scholarships. Welcome, Daynes!

Reporting

Financial Endowment Reports

FY21 Financial Endowment Reports were mailed to donor representatives on December 30th. This year, 3,015 funds were stewarded and 2,989 donors were reached. With positive investment return to showcase, these personalized reports have been well-received and are encouraging future gifts.

PDFs for each fund are sorted by department and can be accessed by Stewies and fundraisers on campus. You can view the online guide for reading Endowment Reports and see the Endowment Policies and Stewardship booklet that accompanies each report here. Please reach out to Caitlin if you need help downloading or viewing these documents.

A big THANK YOU to everyone involved for your dedication and collaboration on this complicated, successful project!

For more information, reach out to Melissa Lee and Caitlin Lacey.

FY22 Endowed Faculty Reports

The new year kicks off our FY22 Faculty Gratitude Report season! Caitlin sent an email to Directors of Development and Stewies requesting a review of their unit’s chair and professor list. Responses to this list were due January 21st. If you have not approved your list or sent your responses back to Caitlin, please do this soon. She plans to request thank you notes from your faculty in February–two months earlier than in previous years.

For more information, reach out to Caitlin Lacey.

Scholarships

Gratitude Reports: Collecting Thank You Messages through March 15

Any school, college, or unit that would like to participate in Gratitude Reports this spring can contact Lauren to discuss the setup process and timeline. If you have participated in the past, expect a communication from Lauren if you have not yet provided recipient lists for this round.

The deadline to submit recipient lists for contact will be the beginning of February. Responses will be collected through March 15 and reports should be printed and distributed in May.

For more information, reach out to Lauren Schlesinger.

Events

Thank a Donor Day

We are excited to announce that Thank a Donor Day will be held on Thursday, April 21st. We look forward to sharing more information with you at the February Team Stewardship meeting.

For more information, reach out to Jordan Dotson.

Communications

First Time Donor Acknowledgement

First time gifts to UGA are acknowledged weekly with an email that includes our Thank a Donor Day video from the year before. This year, we are able to return to our mailed acknowledgement that fully welcomes these donors into the Bulldog family. Making a splash with first-time donors is important for retention, and we are excited to steward these gifts more fully again.

For more information, reach out to Daynes Parker.

PAW Society Acknowledgement

Ring the bell! With Daynes on board, we are able to return to a fun, Hairy Dawg themed mailing for faculty, staff, and retiree donors. Donors from the first half of the year will begin receiving these through campus and USPS mail over the next few weeks!

For more information, reach out to Daynes Parker.

Third Pillar Welcome

A worldwide supply shortage of magnet backing has caused a continued delay in our Third Pillar welcome card. This year, we are moving forward with a vinyl sticker of the same design. Donors from the first half of the fiscal year will get these as soon as the cards are assembled, and the mailing will continue monthly through June.

For more information, reach out to Daynes Parker.

2022 Top Birthday Cards

Our new birthday cards are sure to bring a smile to our donors’ faces in 2022. A tabletop friendly image of our beloved Uga–with a slobbery smile and soft-touch fur–will make its way to the following donors throughout the calendar year:

Cumulative donors of $500,000
UGAF Board of Trustees
Prospects of $1M+ with at least $25K in cumulative giving

For more information, reach out to Daynes Parker.

Stewardship & Engagement

Calling All Dawgs: UGA Giving Day

March 31, 2022

For more information, reach out to Evan Tighe.

Thank a Donor Day

April 21, 2022

For more information, reach out to Jordan Dotson.

Presidents Club Reception

November 4, 2022 | 5 - 7PM

For more information, reach out to Jordan Dotson.

Meetings & Professional Development

Development Meeting

February 7, 2022 | Time TBD

Tate Center - Grand Hall

Team Stewardship

February 17, 2022 | 11AM - 2PM

Tate Reception Hall - Room 135

For more information, reach out to Melissa Lee.

Division Meeting

March 21, 2022 | Time TBD

Tate Center - Grand Hall

Team Stewardship

May 3, 2022 | 11AM - 2PM

College of Engineering

For more information, reach out to Melissa Lee.

Development Meeting

May 16, 2022 | Time TBD

Tate Center - Grand Hall