SBA fundraising hits highest mark in more than a decade

The final numbers are in, and they are impressive:

New gifts and pledges to the School of Business Administration for the fiscal year ending September 30 totaled $1,277,535, more than double the goal that was set for the school last fall by the university's Division of Development and Alumni Affairs. Cash and in-kind gifts - actual money in the door - totaled $955,986. Total combined FY2013 fundraising reached its highest level in 13 years.

As the university has experienced continued cuts in state funding in recent years, private support and partnerships have become increasingly important to helping SBA advance its mission and remain an affordable, high-quality option for its students.

This is a major reason why Interim Dean Margaret Williams has made fund raising and engagement top priorities of her administration. Williams meets regularly with current and prospective donors and has reenergized the school's Board of Visitors with new members.

"Private gifts and partnerships are vital to the long-term success of the School of Business Administration," Williams said. "It is satisfying for me and the school’s faculty and staff to work with such a strong, new development team in Tami Tranter and Heidi Fisher. And, of course, we all appreciate the support of our generous and dedicated alumni and friends."

Director of Development Tamara Tranter (B.S. Finance, '98) and Major Gift Officer Heidi Fisher, both just finishing their first year in SBA, quickly set their focus on meeting with current and potential donors as well as alumni who may have been disconnected from the school since graduation.

"Our supporters can see that their donations make an impact here, and that makes our roles so much easier," Tranter said. "I am happy simply knowing that Heidi and I are able to be a part of the solution, and in my heart each gift is meaningful because it's truly about the intention behind it, not the zeros."

Tranter was also quick to point out that she and Fisher work closely with the faculty and students within SBA as well as a larger group of professionals in the Division of Development and Alumni Affairs.

"Our students and faculty deserve a lot of the credit, because they are the ones who actually inspire the donors to give," she said. "There is also a whole team that works with us on everything from annual and planned giving to those who work more behind the scenes areas like constituent relations and communications."

For more information on making a gift to the WSU School of Business Administration, please contact Heidi Fisher at 313-577-9208 or hfisher@wayne.edu.

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