Development Division Launches Faculty, Staff Fundraising Effort

At two breakfast kickoff events this week, the Development Division announced The Faculty & Staff Drive for Accelerating Excellence, a focused fundraising effort aimed at raising $10.5 million for SLU from its internal community.

The drive, which runs from mid-September through mid-November, will support Accelerating Excellence: The Campaign for Saint Louis University, a $500 million effort designed to propel SLU to national prominence by enhancing its position as a world-class research university. The University will publicly launch this historic campaign in November.

“SLU employees are among the University’s greatest advocates, actively promoting our values and supporting the mission on a daily basis,” said Sheila Manion, vice president of development. “Historically, they have also been among SLU’s most dedicated donors. So while Accelerating Excellence will seek financial gifts from alumni, friends, corporations and the larger St. Louis community, faculty and staff will play a vital role in its success.”

The faculty and staff drive is already near its goal: Through multi-year pledges and several very generous estate planning gifts, $10,233,000 has been raised to date, leaving just $267,000 to go before the drive ends in mid-November.

Gifts of all sizes to any SLU fund will be counted toward the drive’s goal. Faculty and staff donors are encouraged to make their gift via payroll deduction.

“Every single faculty and staff member already contributes daily to the success of our students and our University,” Manion said. “This effort asks them to contribute in a different way. Raising such an impressive amount from our University family sends a message to the greater community that SLU has the support of the people who know it best.”

Donors may request payroll deductions online; it is also possible to make individual gifts via credit card.

For more information about The Faculty & Staff Drive for Accelerating Excellence, contact LaVerne Robinson at laverne.robindson@slu.edu or 977-2206.