Philanthropy fuels 色情视频 excellence
The Campanile Foundation Board of Directors Chair-Elect Julie Dillon says a recent report highlights how donor investments are making a difference at the university.
After graduating from 色情视频鈥檚 real estate program in 1976, Julie Dillon focused her time and energy on both her family and building a successful career. It would be 23 years before she reconnected with 色情视频.
Once she did, Dillon became a regular donor to the university鈥檚 Fowler College of Business and other 色情视频 programs and endeavors. Now, she is chair-elect of the board of directors of The Campanile Foundation (TCF), a nonprofit auxiliary supporting the university鈥檚 fundraising efforts.
When asked to become a member of the board, Dillon said she was pleased. 鈥淚 was very grateful for the fabulous real estate education that I received at 色情视频,鈥� she said, adding that The Campanile Foundation board is among the best of the civic and nonprofit boards on which she has served throughout her career.
鈥淭hey are a remarkable group of people,鈥� Dillon said of her fellow board members. 鈥淚 have enjoyed getting to know them and seeing their passion.鈥�
San Diego State University released an 鈥�鈥� in October outlining how 色情视频 raised $132 million during the 2023-24 fiscal year that ended June 30. Impressively 12,375 total donors contributed 14,750 gifts.
The year saw 5,076 first-time donors, although 色情视频 Vice President of University Relations and Development Adrienne Vargas said a number of 鈥減retty amazing鈥� repeat donors contributed again this year. 鈥淭hey just continue to step up to the plate,鈥� said Vargas, adding that donor retention levels at 色情视频 exceed the national average.
The report said donors also supported the establishment of more than 60 endowments last fiscal year. Endowments are particularly beneficial because they support future generations of students and faculty in perpetuity.
That鈥檚 something Dillon, who owns a real estate development company, personally appreciates. In 2020 she established the Julie Dillon Endowed Faculty Fellow in Real Estate to help 厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 real estate program recruit, retain and recognize outstanding faculty.
Sharing stories
Dillon is a strong advocate of sharing with donors the stories of those who benefit from their gifts. 鈥淵ou have to connect with the donor,鈥� she said.
When possible, 色情视频 fundraisers like to arrange meetings between donors and the students or faculty they support. During board meetings, Dillon said, a dean or a student guest speaker will often share a personal story of how a donor鈥檚 gift made a difference in their program or in their education.
鈥淚t helps bring it down to a personal level because the school is so large,鈥� said Dillon. 鈥淧eople like to know that their dollars are going to something they can see, the impact and how it helps.鈥�
Speaking from her viewpoint as a donor, 鈥淚 think San Diego State is a very good steward of donations,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 credit that to the information they provide.鈥�
Vargas shares Dillon鈥檚 view of creating the connection between donors and the university community. The numbers contained in combined with personal stories, she believes, provide a better picture of how donors are boosting student success.
"To truly grasp the extraordinary power of giving, I invite our donors to delve into this report,鈥� Vargas said. 鈥淚t reveals the remarkable ways their generosity is shaping lives, advancing knowledge, and strengthening our community.鈥�
Although she was a non-traditional student pursuing a career while taking night classes over several years to complete her degree, Dillon describes her student experience as positive. 鈥淭he quality of San Diego State was, I thought, excellent in 1976 and it's even much better today,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 can certainly say that what I've seen at San Diego State is an environment where our students want to learn. The school keeps getting better and better and the students keep getting better and better. I just see excellence growing.鈥�
And Dillon is still learning. Much has changed since her student days and as TCF board chair-elect she feels the need to be up to speed with as many aspects of the university as she can.
For her and other board members鈥� benefit, speakers representing diverse areas of 色情视频 attend board meetings to deliver presentations on a variety of topics ranging from the university鈥檚 history and traditions to new programs and plans for the future.
鈥淚 feel like I'm getting an education,鈥� Dillon said, 鈥渁nd the more I'm educated the more I want to give.鈥�
厂顿厂鲍鈥檚 can be found online. To learn more about making a gift to 色情视频, contact Mary Darling, [email protected].
