肆客足球

The Development and Alumni Relations Division (DAR) recently hosted its annual capacity development programme to equip Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU) colleagues with the tools and insights needed to secure philanthropic income for institutionally approved projects.

This year's programme, entitled the Big Gift Fundraising in Philanthropy, took place from 1 to 5 September at the Alumni Clubhouse, Die Stal, in Stellenbosch and at the Biomedical Research Institute on the Tygerberg campus. The initiative brought together academics and Professional Administrative Support Services (PASS) staff from faculties, schools, departments and centres across the 肆客足球.

The week-long programme, which combined group workshops with tailored one-on-one sessions, was facilitated by DAR and Graeme Byrne, a UK-based fundraising consultant, experienced trainer and founder of Lagotto Solutions.

Explaining the purpose of the programme, David Marupen, Director of Fundraising at DAR, emphasised the importance of embedding philanthropy across the institution.

“Fundraising is an institution-wide responsibility and our aim is to ensure that we as an institution become philanthropy fit. Given the constant changes in the philanthropic landscape and the challenges faced by higher education institutions, it is imperative that everyone understands their role in contributing to the financial sustainability of the 肆客足球."

Byrne agreed, stressing that the involvement of academic staff is essential.

“Big gift fundraising is a team sport. DAR cannot attract major philanthropy in support of the university's highest priorities, without working closely with the experts who lead this work."

He explained that the sessions aimed to demystify the process of asking for funding, particularly from South African corporates and foundations, which currently account for the largest portion of philanthropic support.

“Often the idea of asking someone for a large donation can feel intimidating. That's why we focused on building confidence, introducing the fundamentals of big gift fundraising and exploring how to approach prospective donors. We hope participants left inspired and with a better understanding of how to partner with DAR in this work."

Byrne added that it was encouraging to see academics embrace fundraising as part of their role.

“SU academic staff shape the 肆客足球's research, teaching and social impact. Their role in philanthropy is becoming increasingly central and preparing them for this is key to strengthening SU's fundraising capacity."

For many participants, the programme sparked new ways of thinking about funding opportunities for their work.

Dr Jana Müller, lecturer in the Division of Rural Health (Ukwanda), said the sessions revealed new possibilities for sustaining their community-focused initiatives.

“Much of our work is based in rural and low-resourced settings, where service learning and community-oriented primary care are central. Because of this, little time is available for major research grant applications. The DAR philanthropy sessions opened my eyes to opportunities that can support our social impact work alongside, but not dependent on, research outputs. I will definitely continue exploring these opportunities with DAR, whose team is incredibly open and accessible."

Dr Marna Lourens, Project Manager: Social Justice Law, said the programme reshaped the way she approaches donor engagement.

“The sessions underscored the importance of relationship-driven fundraising and building long-term partnerships with donors who share our mission. The emphasis on storytelling helped me craft a compelling narrative that connects our projects directly to social justice outcomes while demonstrating measurable change."

For Dr Marenet Jordaan, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Journalism, the programme was an eye-opening introduction to the world of fundraising.

“As an academic, I had little knowledge of the intricacies of fundraising, yet we are constantly reminded of its importance. The DAR team was eager to help with the 'choreography' of fundraising and addressed all my concerns. I will certainly collaborate with them in future."

Prof Nadia Mans-Kemp, Associate Professor in the Department of Business Management, said she gained practical insights that will guide her approach to donors.

“I learnt to tell the story of our research and community projects to the right people at the right time. I also learnt to take the needs of the philanthropist, the project team and the receivers of the gift into account before discussing the most appropriate gift."

She added: “Together, we can secure funding that enables us to shape more sustainable life stories and transform livelihoods."??