UT recognized for fundraising efforts

October 24, 2013 | News, UToday, Alumni
By Kevin Bucher



The University of Toledo annual fund fundraising team received the Reeher Peak Performance Award, which is given to schools that increase annual giving dollars and donors in the same year.

Peak Performance AwardUT received the award last month from Reeher, a leading developer of cutting-edge software services to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of higher education fundraising efforts, at the Reeher Vista Executive Conference in Minnesota.

Reeher provides universities with information about potential donors that is then broken down by the fundraising team and turned into results. The University has been a client of Reeher for two years, and this is the first time UT has been recognized with this performance award.

“We all feel really good about winning the award, especially because Reeher has clients nationwide, and we were recognized alongside bigger schools like Duke University, Fordham University and Johns Hopkins University,” said Heather Slough, director of annual giving programs.

Slough thanked Allie Berns and Michele Wilson, assistant directors of annual giving, who managed a number of programs, including a phonathon program, direct mail appeals and e-solicitations, which helped raise money and increase donor support.

“This award is a result of managing all those programs,” Slough said. “It’s definitely a team effort, and I think it speaks to not just the work we do, but our collaboration with the rest of our development team that led to us receiving this award.”

“Annual giving serves as the starting point for all donors to the University,” said Vern Snyder, vice president for institutional advancement. “Heather, Michele and Allie develop the donor materials that attract the major donors of tomorrow. The benefits of their work serve the University for years into the future.”

UT has one of the smaller fundraising teams in the Mid-American Conference, but the University was still able to outperform other schools, and there is a certain level of prestige that comes with that, said Barbara Tartaglia-Poure, associate vice president for development.

“Heather and her tiny but mighty team of people won this award, and we are just crazy proud that our team led the entire Reeher platform in annual fund accomplishment,” Tartaglia-Poure said.

“This is a testament to the loyalty and generosity of our alumni and friends,” Slough said. “The money that we raise helps every student on this campus, so we definitely appreciate their support.”

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