What really stinks about UMCP

[Arslan]

is that the school just successfully completed its Great Expectations campaign, meeting its goal of raising $1 billion in about 6 years.

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore...eaches-1b.html

What I don't understand is why the Terrapin Club couldn't tap into that fundraising list to generate enough revenue to stablize its athletic department's finances.

Or why the Terrapin Club didn't start a similar campaign to run in conjunction with the Great Expectations campaign.

Or why the athletic department wasn't named as one of the beneficiaries of the Great Expectations campaign.

[slapshot]

Or why the athletic department wasn't named as one of the beneficiaries of the Great Expectations campaign.

In response to the aforementioned - I'm not aware of ANY university that uses any endowment money for athletics. If there are, it's pretty rare. Money is always earmarked for academics (ie, scholarships, academic buildings, equipment, endowed professorships, research seed money, etc).

[The Eternal White Belt]

The terrapin club did have numerous efforts to save specific sports, but only 1 sport had any success. The Terrapin Club also operates under a slightly handicapped system in which only 80% of your gift is tax-deductible (due to the benefits you receive as a member).

[Arslan]

In response to the aforementioned - I'm not aware of ANY university that uses any endowment money for athletics. If there are, it's pretty rare. Money is always earmarked for academics (ie, scholarships, academic buildings, equipment, endowed professorships, research seed money, etc).

I'm only saying the campaign should've been a dual effort towards building academics, first and foremost, and finally athletics.

[Arslan]

The terrapin club did have numerous efforts to save specific sports, but only 1 sport had any success. The Terrapin Club also operates under a slightly handicapped system in which only 80% of your gift is tax-deductible (due to the benefits you receive as a member).

If they had piggybacked on to the Great Expectations campaign, than the tax deduction wouldn't have been limited to 80 percent, because the fundraising appeal was made to the general public at large.

[slapshot]

I'm only saying the campaign should've been a dual effort towards building academics, first and foremost, and finally athletics.

I think this may be part of your answer?

From The Chronicle of Higher Education:

"Athletics contributions already cut into donations for academic programs on some campuses. Now athletics fund raisers are making a bigger play for bequests, worrying some academic gift officers who have been chasing the same prospects as the economy has soured.

"The fact that athletics crosses all disciplines and colleges makes this more challenging, because they can go into any alumni base — engineering, pharmacy, sciences, and arts — to solicit estate gifts," says David Cave, a senior major-gifts officer at the University of Michigan. "And they might have a certain edge because of their approaching donors with benefits.

But with a steady flow of capital needs, few programs can afford to set aside money. Last year just 9 percent of contributions to the biggest programs went to their endowments. And with donors' assets shrinking, some insiders believe that athletics fund raisers may have to keep the endowment pitch in the bag.

"'Endowment' is a nice thing to say, and in a perfect world everyone would say that," says Mark Ingram, associate athletic director for development at the University of Tennessee. "The current economic climate calls for it but doesn't necessarily allow for it."

Besides, endowment donations can take years to cultivate, and athletics fund raisers are not known for their patience.

"Part of what makes athletics work is there's an urgency," fueled by coaches' rising salaries and constant building, says Bruce Flessner, a fund-raising consultant. "Other parts of the academy have a longer payout."

Sports donors are also used to getting something in return for their gifts, which could make philanthropic endowment donations harder to land. Almost every large athletics program requires a minimum annual donation in exchange for the right to buy football or men's basketball tickets — and the bigger the gift, the better the seats. According to the Chronicle's survey, more than 40 percent of donations to the country's biggest sports programs last year went for seats or suites.

"We've created this culture of give and take, where we're holding people hostage to get a seat," says Jennifer Cohen, senior associate athletic director for advancement at the University of Washington. "We're going to have to work hard to overcome that."


There's only so many alumni to tap, and as donations drop, from the afforementioned, it would appear that there is a bit of a turf battle (ie, academic vs athletcs) going on as to who will get the money?

Not to mention, as the article says, most athletic donors want something in return for their contribution, where most academic donors are true philanthropists and seek nothing (tangible) in return.

Certainly the athletic dept is free to conduct their own endowement efforts, but for some of the afrorementioned reasons, the folks at UMd did not wish to include them in the general/academic endowment fundraising. I should also add, that often, much of the money gets earmarked for specific, big ticket programs, e.g., medical/cancer/heart research. Only a small percentage of most gifts/donations are not encumbered in some way.

[kudzu]

I think this may be part of your answer?

Jesus, you're completely so freakin' gay...

[slapshot]

Jesus, you're completely so freakin' gay...

To quote mom, I have gay friends.

Was Jesus gay?

[kudzu]

To quote mom, I have gay friends.

Was Jesus gay?

Probably.

[slapshot]

Probably.

I know you.

Gay phobia is a sign...

[kudzu]

I know you.

Gay phobia is a sign...

Who's scared of gay people. Seriously.

[slapshot]

Who's scared of gay people. Seriously.

Look in the mirror.

[kudzu]

Look in the mirror.

Ok...

If I were a woman, I'd tear that stuff up.

But I'm not.

So..., what ?...

[slapshot]

Ok...

If I were a woman, I'd tear that stuff up.

But I'm not.

So..., what ?...

Speechless?

Ok.

[afan]

Who's scared of gay people. Seriously.

If I were you. I would change your avatar . If ever a picture of someone looked gay, it is this one. You not only look gay but a dork to boot.

[afan]

s it is you look like the kid who starts trouble than when the fight gets started between two sides, you are no where to be found. Kind of like a instigator but one with no guts.You pick your targets on this board and because the board is anonymous ,you stay...if you had to confront the other you would not be so brave. A board Nelly are you.

[kudzu]

If I were you. I would change your avatar . If ever a picture of someone looked gay, it is this one. You not only look gay but a dork to boot.

A dork, definately.

Gay ? Not a chance.