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MAJOR
GIFTS
Major
Gift Program
Any gift or gift commitment of $25,000
or more is considered a major gift. Frequently these gifts are made
to fund endowed scholarships, fellowships, professorships, and chairs,
as well as to support programs and supplement capital projects.
Major gifts may also be unrestricted. These are used at the discretion
of the College to support current operations or are placed in an
endowment account for future use.
A major commitment of the development staff is to work closely with
donors to ensure that every gift we receive is used according to
the donor's intent for the benefit of the College. Development officers
also work with donors to find the financial instrument that best
meets the needs of the donor when making the gift - whether the
contribution be made outright, with a check or stocks; pledged over
a specific period of time; or deferred through an estate commitment
or other planned-giving vehicle.
Gifts may be given in many ways for many purposes. For example,
in 1999, the College of Business received an estate commitment
of more than $6 million from alumnus Leiby Hall. This bequest includes
the largest gift in support of undergraduate scholarships the University
of Illinois has ever received. Another example is a major gift
made by Business alumnus Thomas Sleeman, who endowed a scholarship
named in honor of Robert Mautz, a former professor of accountancy.
Also, in 2004 the Richard A. Erley Leadership Development Program
was established by his wife Jeane Erley to provide support, specialized
training, and distinctive educational experiences to help College
of Business students prepare for and gain a competitive advantage
in the business world.
Capital Projects
A shortage of space and outmoded facilities has led the College
to concentrate a large portion of its development activities on
facilities enhancement. The transformation of Commerce West into Wohlers Hall was made possible through the generosity of Al and
Jane Wohlers, with additional help from Neil Bluhm and Judd Malkin.
The next project is the construction of a new educational facility
parallel to Wohlers Hall on the west side of South Sixth Street.
This facility will have additional classroom space, sorely needed
by the College, and will also house the MBA program, Business
Career Services, Undergraduate Affairs and a new technology resource center.
Groundbreaking for the facility is set for April 2006 and we expect the construction process
to be completed in two years.
Corporate Relations
Working closely with academic departments, Business Career Services
and other units in the college, the development office forges and
maintains links with the corporate world. This collaboration helps
corporations devise the best strategies for connecting with Business
students who are highly sought-after as their future workforce.
In addition to making outright, tax-deductible gifts, corporations
can become involved in the college in several ways. These include:
- offering scholarships and fellowships
- providing internships
- participating in the semiannual Business Career
Fair
- supporting returning alumni and staff members who
come to campus to share their expertise in the classroom
mentoring students
- enhancing physical facilities
- providing in-kind gifts of computers and software
and
- sponsoring programs, especially in the Industrial
Distribution Management Program and the Technology and Management
Program.
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