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Strategic collaboration: Using multimedia projects to inspire giving and steward donors
Journal of Education Advancement & Marketing,
9
(1),
39-50
(2024)
Abstract
In 2021, the UConn Foundation began creating multimedia packages to show the impact of philanthropy. These packages are a collaborative effort between the foundation's Marketing and Communications Department and development officers. By taking the time to establish a partnership built on trust and respect, they have honed the process and developed strategies and best practices to identify story leads, create multimedia packages and use the packages effectively for fundraising and stewardship purposes. This paper analyses the UConn Foundation's process and how to apply these practices in their own organisations.
Keywords: fundraising; donor engagement; stewardship; multimedia; video; stories
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Jennifer Eburg is a communications and marketing professional with more than 15 years of non-profit experience. She currently works at the UConn Foundation, where she brings her passion for storytelling into her work as a writer and editor on the marketing and communications team. Prior to joining the UConn Foundation, she worked at Miss Porter's School, most recently serving as Associate Director of Communications and Marketing and Editor of the school's alumnae magazine. While at Miss Porter's School, Jennifer earned an InspirED Brilliance Award for Fundraising Video, In-House, for writing and overseeing the production of the school's annual giving day campaign video. She was also a key contributor to several projects that earned CASE Circle of Excellence Awards, PRSA Mercury Awards and other recognition.
Matthew Hodgkins is a visual storyteller with over 10 years of experience working in higher education. He currently works at the UConn Foundation, where he leads the multimedia team as Senior Multimedia Producer. Matt's stories generally focus on a central theme: the impact of giving. Prior to joining the UConn Foundation, Matt, a UConn alumnus, worked in the central marketing departments at George Washington University and Baylor University.
Grace Merritt is a writer and editor at the UConn Foundation, where she tells stories that show the impact of giving. Previously, she was a writer and editor for the University of Hartford's marketing and communications office. Prior to that, she was a reporter, editor and bureau chief at The Hartford Courant, where she won numerous awards, including the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists' top award for investigative reporting.
Michael Van Sambeck leads a team responsible for developing relationships for the UConn School of Business that has resulted in the philanthropic support of students, faculty and programmes. Since joining the UConn Foundation, the School of Business has more than doubled its annual support, surpassing US$14m in gifts and commitments in the 2023 financial year. He manages a portfolio of high-net-worth families, giving them guidance to drive impactful philanthropic contributions. He recently worked with a donor to name the Management and Entrepreneurship Department at UConn, the University's first departmental naming. Previously, he worked for the Connecticut General Assembly, advising senators on individualised strategic plans to match their vision with the needs of their district, and managed two state senate campaigns. Michael is a dual UConn alumnus with an MBA and BS in history.
