Leading the Way Forward:
The IGS Capital Campaign

Adopted on 6/10/09

Overview

All of us who hold a stake in UC Berkeley face the future with both confidence and concern. Confidence in the robust tradition of academic excellence and concern posed by declining financial support from the state of California that has dwindled down to less than 30 percent of Berkeley's annual budget. Simply put, the University must seek new sources of revenue in order to continue its global leadership with a more independent financial base.

The generosity of alumni and friends will be a crucial factor in protecting Berkeley's preeminence as the world's leading public institution of higher learning.

The Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) at Berkeley is the University's primary center for advancing interdisciplinary research in American politics, public policy and governance. Established in 1919, IGS serves student, faculty, researchers, and the public in expanding the understanding of the political process and training future leaders to run political, economic, and social institutions with competence and ethical values. IGS is a nonpartisan think tank and bridge between academia and the practical world of politics and the press.

IGS Mission

Thinking about the issues that will matter tomorrow, IGS combines the scholarly study of government and access to the real-world experience of practical politics and public service. IGS excels as:

• A nonpartisan forum that stimulates vigorous debate on the most pressing issues confronting society for students, scholars, politicians, analysts, journalists, and the public at large. Each year, IGS reaches over 10,000 participants in our array of seminars, colloquiums, conferences, debates, lecture series, and webcasts.
• An interdisciplinary research center exploring and nurturing path-breaking advances in policy relevant solutions to urgent state and national issues. IGS sponsors $1.5 Million each year in faculty lead extramural grants that influence issues that are making a difference right now.
• A place for preparing the leaders of tomorrow by delivering the best and brightest students into careers in public service. IGS sponsors each year about 50 student internships and fellowships in national, state, local, and non-profit sectors. Many of these students go quickly on to positions of public leadership in our state and nation.

Goals

In order to preserve the Institute's mission for future generations of scholars, IGS will pursue the following fundraising goals over the next five years:

• IGS will seek $1 M to fund its portfolio of student leadership, internship and research programs. These programs include the following student-centered activities: the Cal-in-Sacramento internship program and the courses that prepare interns for working in state government; expanding internship opportunities into national and local service in partnership with the Matsui Center; and research awards to recognize the best students and to support faculty led research activities that engage students in meaningful discovery.
• IGS will seek $8-10 M or more to endow the Institute through a naming opportunity in order to safeguard the Institute's operating base from further erosion in state support.

Objectives

In order to reach these goals the Institute is developing a plan to raise $200,000 per year over the next five years. These funds will become the IGS Endowment Fund that supports student programs. This campaign will commence on July 1, 2009 and terminate on June 30, 2014.

In seeking to name the Institute, a national search will be conducted to identify an appropriate benefactor. Locating a major donor will take significant effort, and thus we will allocate up to three years for the search, with a goal to have it completed no later than July 1, 2012.

Tactics

To reach the goal of $200,000 per year in new gifts for the IGS Endowment, IGS will conduct the following fundraising activities:

• Annual appeal: The IGS annual appeal will raise $ 50,000 or more per year in gifts. This campaign reaches 2,500 individuals contained in the Friends of IGS database. Contact for these prospects will consist of a letter by mail and a telephone contact as follow-up for any former donors who fail to respond to the appeal. The chronology for the annual appeal will be as follows:
  
  September-October: the database is prepared for use
  November: the letters are issued by mail
  January-February: telephone contacts will be made as follow-ups
• IGS National Advisory Council: The Council will contribute $50,000 or more each year in gifts. It is the expectation that each Council member will contribute or raise at least $ 5,000 per year in donations to the Institute. We will grow the Council membership to reach 25 members over the next year from it current 19 members.
• Corporate giving: We will develop a corporate giving council of Bay Area businesses that care about the IGS mission in serving state government. These corporate members will be expected to donate $20,000 per year. We expect to generate $50,000 or more from this activity. We will create the IGS corporate giving council by the following steps:
  
  The IGS National Advisory Council will identify five potential corporate prospects. These corporate partners will be invited to attend a special breakfast or luncheon event to introduce them to the benefits of association and how we might use its charitable contributions. Corporate affiliates will be given recognition in the following ways: complimentary advertising as sponsors on the IGS website, general publications, and major events; receive access to our students that are seeking internships in learning about corporate public affairs operations; be given access to our affiliated faculty expertise and consulting on politics and public policy matters; and VIP invitations to special events.
• Annual Salon Gala event: We will raise $50,000 or more per year by hosting the IGS Annual Salon Gala as a ticketed public event that features dinner and a guest speaker. The IGS National Advisory Council's Development Committee will guide the event's planning efforts. The event will be held in San Francisco and all Council members will be expected to each sell at a minimum 10 tickets to the Gala. The IGS Leadership Award will be given out at the Gala to a prominent person that exemplifies the spirit of advancing public affairs in California and beyond.

In crafting a strategy for naming the Institute, the IGS National Advisory Council's Development Committee shall begin a national search for a fitting philanthropist who has the capacity to give the Institute $8-10 M or more. The Development Committee shall devise the best strategy for finding prospects and may consider engaging an agent to conduct this effort as appropriate.

Closing Statement

IGS has a history and perspective unique to California, yet a reach and influence that stretch across the nation and around the global. Since its founding in 1919, IGS has shed light on important public issues for 90 years. As California has grown, we have expanded our programs to address emerging concerns and educate and prepare more students to lead. Investing in the Institute supports the University's core mission of research and public service in building a better state and society.