With the Rodkin donation for the combo soccer/lax & academic support facility, it's good to see further momentum in fundraising by Hobbs and the athletic development/major gifts team. I am assuming some of this is attributed to an ongoing relationship that has been cultivated and that may have started some years ago. In this case, time that would appear to be well spent courting out-of-state alums such as the Rodkins.
Those familiar with fundraising efforts have posted in the past on these boards that it takes time to build the connection with potential donors, establish trust and transparency, and get folks starting small and then slowly building up from there (regardless of the relative range of donations that may be made).
The NJ.com article announcing the Rodkin donation highlights how the they have donated, prior to this latest gift, quite generously across the University. I think it may have been the $2M gift to help get the Honors College off the ground that triggered the article profiling the Rodkins in the alumni magazine from a few years back. The couple are mid-70s grads that found themselves in position to give generously towards causes of their choosing and we are lucky that Rutgers is one of the prime beneficiaries.
Hopefully, Rutgers alums of all ages will give as they see fit and deem appropriate. With any luck (and the efforts of the Foundation staff) and momentum from learning of the Rodkin and similar donations, it would be great if some large gifts could be coming Rutgers' way for both academics and athletics.
Those familiar with fundraising efforts have posted in the past on these boards that it takes time to build the connection with potential donors, establish trust and transparency, and get folks starting small and then slowly building up from there (regardless of the relative range of donations that may be made).
The NJ.com article announcing the Rodkin donation highlights how the they have donated, prior to this latest gift, quite generously across the University. I think it may have been the $2M gift to help get the Honors College off the ground that triggered the article profiling the Rodkins in the alumni magazine from a few years back. The couple are mid-70s grads that found themselves in position to give generously towards causes of their choosing and we are lucky that Rutgers is one of the prime beneficiaries.
Hopefully, Rutgers alums of all ages will give as they see fit and deem appropriate. With any luck (and the efforts of the Foundation staff) and momentum from learning of the Rodkin and similar donations, it would be great if some large gifts could be coming Rutgers' way for both academics and athletics.
