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ALSO
IN THIS ISSUE Beyond Books Designer's Challenge Improving Mother Nature Bach to the Future Chancellor's
Page Development News Factoids More Factoids Accidental Heroes Newsmakers |
DEVELOPMENT NEWS With
the pool of public funds drying up, the district has cast its net for
private funds.
All of that changed when the Board of Trustees officially challenged the district to become more proactive in raising money for the colleges, and the Office of District Advancement was born. Lou Murillo, the former president of Miramar College, was brought in to run the office. He has designed a multi-purpose program that has become both professional and profitable for the district. "Prior to that time, we had done some grant writing, but had not become serious about private-sector fund raising," Murillo said. "Such fund raising is a relatively new concept for community colleges in California. A few have done remarkably well, and we have sought to become adept at developing the mechanisms that bring private-sector funds into the colleges." The office utilizes the talents of a small but resourceful staff, teaming to develop such successful activities as the Corporate Council, the Leave a Legacy Society and a sizable scholarship program. These activities align with outreach efforts such as the annual luncheon for retired managers. "The Corporate Council allows us to better connect with the local business community," Murillo said. "The Leave a Legacy Society encourages those who have an emotional investment in the colleges, particularly with specific programs, to know that such programs will be helped by donations from their wills. We now have 35 members in the society who have pledged portions of their estates." Murillo is on the phone frequently with longtime educators in the district, former students and others who convey an emotional attachment to a program, such as nursing or one of the vocational departments. The Corporate Council arm is also growing, with such partners as Southwest Airlines joining numerous other business leaders in financial partnerships with the district. As the colleges educate so many working adults, the business community has a substantial interest in the quantity and quality of education, and the advancement office makes certain those advantages are widely known. Scholarships, meanwhile, now total more than $500,000, according to Murillo. He says the district has never received money from some sources in the past simply because no one asked for it. "It is important for us to take the initiative, especially in times when the economy is soft and there is not a lot of money for education," Murillo said. The office has also helped correct misconceptions. "People may recognize our name but not be clear about who we are, what we do," Murillo said. "One of the most common misperceptions is that all of the community colleges are interconnected. One of our primary goals is simply to better inform." The recent passing of the bond issue also helps. "It's a very monumental and significant achievement," Murillo said. "But even though the bond passed, we still face some difficult financial challenges." One perception has it that community colleges receive all the money they could possibly need from the state. It's not true, and the current budget crisis illustrates how community colleges remain in a financial crunch. "In difficult financial times, you must look for more revenue streams," Murillo said. "The governor is proposing an increase in fees that amounts to $24 per unit. Our student population will be hard-pressed to come up with that. We have always prided ourselves on being the people's college, and if these cost increases go through, we will be closer to off limits for some of our target population." The advancement office now seeks to establish a firm economic base through a general endowment. "This is something that private universities invest a lot of time in," Murillo said. "It would be great to expand fund development so that each college has its own fund-raising arm. We really are just starting to scratch the surface of what we can do." |
Lou Murillo MORE INFORMATION:
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