After raising $27.6 million in 2012, York is in the process of launching a new fundraising campaign to reach out to donors.
The last fundraising campaign, “York to the Power of 50,” which was completed in April 2010, raised approximately $207 million from more than 30,000 donors.
Jeff O’Hagan, vp advancement at York, says that the university has set annual fundraising goals and over time, the next multi-year campaign for the university will come together.
“No date has been set on when the new campaign will be launched,” says O’Hagan.
The university raises money mainly through their call centre operation. York hires students to phone up potential donors; the students share their experience at the university to try and raise funds.
O’Hagan says he hopes to continue to reach out to potential donors and alumni by engaging them with the university’s vision.
“[We want to] to tell the story of what’s happening at York University and why it’s important for alumni and others of the university to support our students and their vision,” says O’Hagan.
Apart from the call centre, there are also direct mail programs and a lot of face-to-face activities York uses to raise money.
In the previous years, the “York to the Power of 50” campaign was successful, and $78.8 million have been raised in the three years since it ended, with a majority of the proceeds going towards student awards, capital projects, and faculty.
Though O’Hagan is pleased with the amount raised so far, he still sees some room to grow. “We’re pleased because in the last two years we’ve raised more money than any 24-month period in our history,” says O’Hagan. “But we’re certainly not content or satisfied [because] we want [number] to continue to grow as the needs of our students continue to grow.”
While the new campaign is still being planned, York is in process of trying to reach their $30-million target for this fiscal year.
Victoria Alarcon
Assistant News Editor
