Development office restructures to promote teamwork, technology

The University's development office has been restructured under the direction of Brian McDonald '83 to promote teamwork and develop new technological networks.

"We have been one of the most efficient fund-raising entities on the planet," said McDonald, vice president for development, noting that the office has tended to spend five to seven cents for each dollar brought in.

Now the office plans to use some money to create an online network for use by volunteers.

"We haven't invested in a knowledge-management system," McDonald said. He added that such a system would represent "money well spent."

The changes are motivated by President Tilghman's wishes for the University — not a general trend among university development offices — to emphasize teamwork and harness intellectual capital, McDonald said.

McDonald said his office hopes to be "among the first areas of the University to respond to her challenge."

Before its restructuring the office was divided into eight departments. It has now been consolidated into four areas of focus: individual and institutional giving, development planning and administration, development relations and development information services.

McDonald said the new organization would make the office "much more team-oriented."

In contrast, Harvard University's development program is spread out among its 10 schools, each of which has its own development office. Though new leadership is creating change, a spokesman for Harvard's development office said there are no plans for formal restructuring.

McDonald worked in volunteer fund-raising positions before joining the development office staff. He chaired the Challenge 2000 Committee, which reached out to younger alumni classes during the University's Anniversary Campaign.

The development office plans to continue to focus on the recently graduated classes, he said.

"We have invested a good bit of time communicating with the younger alumni just how important their support is," he said, noting that younger alumni become older alumni.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

"Giving back to Princeton has an enormous impact on the institution," he added.

He said the University's endowment represents thousands of gifts given over two centuries, and that it pays for 50 percent of the University's operating budget.

He also said that because of the University's funding the full tuition cost paid by students represents half of the total cost of their attendance.

Given the many philanthropic causes soliciting for funds the development office must continue to enlist support and continue to build on its past accomplishments, McDonald said.

"We need to work harder to continue to remind people that Princeton is very worthy of their generosity," he said.