How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

Development and Alumni Relations is strategically divided into solicitation and engagement, supported by an infrastructure that makes us all more successful. Development Operations comprises the communications, acquisition, retention, data management, technology and gift accounting teams as well as campaign strategy. 

What does this department do?

The department serves the vice president of DAR, as well as our stakeholders and colleagues, by building the architecture to enhance a culture of philanthropy across VCU and VCU Health. 

Team lead

• Samantha Wheeler Marrs, senior associate vice president for campaign administration

Who reports to the department manager?

• Campaign Administration
• Advancement Solutions 
• Strategic Marketing and Engagement

When should you contact this department?

When you need positive energy, campaign information, assistance decoding policies and protocols, and answers to the “Why is it this way?” questions. Go directly to the department leaders for all subject-matter expertise.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

Advancement Solutions manages all business intelligence and gift accounting that drive engagement and fundraising strategy. This includes the accuracy and relevancy of data as well as the overall functionality and configuration of the database. 

What does this department do?

Advancement Solutions provides fundraising support services for all VCU staff engaged in fundraising, foundation services and alumni programs. The department ensures the accuracy of the RADAR database and provides staff with the tools and training necessary to access and use that data in an efficient and effective manner. The department is composed of:

• Gifts and Records Management
• Prospect Development
• Information Systems

Team lead

• Natalie Spring, assistant vice president, Advancement Solutions

When should you contact this department?

If you need assistance with any aspect of RADAR or other fundraising applications or have questions about gift processing and receipting, data integrity, prospect research, management and strategy, information technology, data analysis or training on how to use the database and the services we provide.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

Gifts and Records Management supports DAR by keeping donor records as complete and accurate as possible, processing philanthropic gifts in accordance with the Donor Bill of Rights and appropriately receipting gifts in accordance with IRS and CASE standards.

What does this department do?

GRM manages gift acceptance and processing, data integrity and gift stewardship. GRM reviews processes, identifies service gaps and updates policies and procedures to be donor-centric while complying with IRS and CASE standards.

Team lead

• Mandy Smith, director, Gifts and Records Management

When should you contact this department?

If you have any questions related to new gifts or pledges, unusual gifts, documentation required to book pledges or planned gifts, data integrity, mass appeals for alumni updates and projects to load additional information to records in RADAR.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

DAR Information Systems provides support services for all VCU staff engaged in fundraising, foundation services and alumni programs. This includes managing RADAR, online services, email, account and network services. The department works with staff at 111 N. Fourth St. and end-users to continually improve RADAR and to meet ever-changing fundraising needs.

What does this department do?

• Manages, enhances, supports and troubleshoots the fundraising database RADAR for optimal usage by DAR staff.
• Works with campus partners and DAR leadership to develop enhancements, reports, data integrations and other features to customize RADAR.
• Maintains DAR websites and partner web applications.
• Maintains and supports data integrations with partner systems.
• Maintains servers, network, IT systems and user accounts to ensure secure and reliable IT infrastructure.
• Provides desktop and conference room support and procurement for all 111 employees and provides RADAR support for all DAR staff.

Key department team members

• Rob Downs (M.S.’06), executive director, DAR Information Systems

When should you contact this department?

Contact Information Systems through the DAR intranet request forms for online forms and new account requests. RADAR feature enhancement requests and training questions are also submitted online.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

Prospect Development creates and disseminates prospect research materials (profiles, capacity ratings, employment info, etc.) and provides prospect management services and consultation and data analytics (descriptive and predictive).

What does this department do?

Researches donors and prospective donors in relation to their background, employment, giving interests, capacity and connections to the university. Publicly available data is used to create profiles that are distributed to development officers, deans and the president. Additionally, the team provides strategic analysis and support to help development teams identify the prospects they should be concentrating efforts with and those who should be removed from active cultivation, resulting in asking the right donor for the right amount at the right time. Working as partners with the front-line fundraising staff, the team ensures that documentation of all identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship efforts are recorded in RADAR. 

Team lead

• Rachel Brandell-Mayers, executive director, Prospect Development

When should you contact this department?

If you need assistance with prospect identification, plans, opportunities, research, contact reports, capacity analysis, prospect strategy and prospect management support.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

Strategic Marketing and Engagement ensures coordinated and strategic engagement for all DAR audiences.

What does this department do?

SME manages universitywide alumni and donor events and stewardship, the annual calendar of solicitations and all universitywide messaging to alumni, donors and internal constituents. The department is composed of: 

• DAR Communications
• DAR Marketing and Engagement
• DAR Signature Events
• Strategic Initiatives

Team lead

• Melanie Irvin (B.S.’96), assistant vice president, Strategic Marketing and Engagement 

DAR Communications

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

The DAR Communications team promotes VCU and engages the university community through integrated strategic communications and shares the importance and impact of giving and engagement through intentional, consistent messaging to alumni, donors, friends and colleagues.

What does this department do?

• Develops and executes robust communications for VCU Alumni.
• Messaging, collateral, engagement strategy
• Semiannual alumni magazines
• Monthly alumni e-newsletter and events email
• vcualumni.org
• Develops and executes robust communications with donors.
• VCU Magazine
• support.vcu.edu
• Giving news
• Black & Gold & You faculty, staff, retiree campaign
• Two donor impact books annually
• Personalized proposals for principal giving-level prospects
• Ovrture online proposal system
• Assists with strategy and creates annual giving solicitations.
• Provides communications strategy consultation for campus partners.
• Develops and executes campaign communications.

Team lead

• Kristen Caldwell (B.S.’94), executive director, DAR Communications

When should you contact this department?

If you need communications strategy planning, want to steward donors/gifts/alumni with articles in VCU Magazine or on support.vcu.edu or need fundraising collateral.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

DAR Marketing and Engagement works with stakeholders universitywide to enhance efforts that increase engagement, retention and philanthropic results.

What does this department do?

Strategizes, plans and executes universitywide engagement, solicitation, retention and stewardship efforts that engage segmented constituencies via multiple channels. DAR Marketing and Engagement is composed of Constituent Marketing, Donor Engagement  and Marketing Strategy. The Constituent Marketing team sets the universitywide calendar of appeals and solicitation channels. The team collaborates with campus partners to execute industry best practices and to ensure compliance with university policy and procedures. 

Team lead

• vacant, executive director, DAR Marketing and Engagement 

When should you contact this department?

To develop a comprehensive annual giving/engagement/stewardship strategy that incorporates a multichannel approach to engaging potential donors and soliciting support for unrestricted or restricted giving. Coordination ensures solicitations don’t overlap and that solicitation ROI can be reported. 

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

DAR Signature Events, using constituent data and industry best practices, creates and implements strategic, meaningful in-person and virtual experiences for VCU constituencies that result in increased engagement and giving and foster an ongoing culture of philanthropy. The team reports jointly to the AVP for Strategic Marketing and Engagement and the AVP for alumni relations. 

What does this department do?

DAR Signature Events sets a strategic vision, oversees, plans and measures events, including reunions, homecoming, alumni recognition programs, universitywide stewardship events and more. The office produces events designed to showcase the achievements of alumni, donors, students, patients and employees, elevate the university’s national and international prominence and inspire engagement and giving.

Team lead

• Ashley Dow Burton, CSEP, executive director, DAR Signature Events

When should you contact this department?

• Advice, vision or assistance for major universitywide events or recognition programs.
• To plan reunions, alumni awards, investitures or scholarship events.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

The Strategic Initiatives team executes VCU Giving Day and oversees all crowdfunding programs. The team focuses on ensuring our giving mechanisms are donor-centric, are on the cutting edge and follow best practices.

What does this department do?

The department sets strategy, builds consensus and executes VCU Giving Day, ensuring participation from all campus partners. Crowdfunding campaigns are executed on the Igniter platform by the team, in collaboration with campus partners. The team works to implement new giving methods and stays abreast of best practices in fundraising. 

Team lead

• Michael Andrews (M.S.’05), executive director, Strategic Initiatives

When should you contact this department?

If you would like to participate in Giving Day or to surface a crowdfunding campaign on Igniter.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

DAR Talent Management is dedicated to providing a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to recruit, select, develop and retain exceptional advancement professionals. The office partners with key DAR and campus leaders to identify and plan for current and future talent needs. 

What does this department do?

Talent Management provides support to managers during the recruitment and onboarding processes, develops and administers DAR systems training, coordinates professional development programs, administers the performance management process, provides personnel management resources and partners with VCU Human Resources to educate employees on available benefits and to guide them through the process of enrolling or making changes.

Team lead

• Julia Ayscue, executive director, Talent Management

When should you contact this department?

If you need assistance with the recruitment process, have questions about compensation or VCU job families, need DAR systems training or have questions about VCU benefits and resources. We are here to answer all of your HR, training and general workplace concerns.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

The Office of Alumni Relations leads the university’s efforts to strengthen and promote an invested alumni community and inspire lifelong loyalty that advances VCU. With an annual goal of engaging 50,000 unique alumni, the office focuses on alumni engagement in four key delivery areas: awareness, activity, volunteerism and philanthropy. 

All alumni of VCU, the Medical College of Virginia and Richmond Professional Institute are members for life of VCU Alumni at no cost. Alumni engagement is achieved, in part, by the delivery of staff-driven programming and a volunteer-centric constituent organization model composed of academic, geographic, identity-based and shared-interest networks. Additional programming focused on lifelong learning and career and professional development provides further avenues for in-person and virtual engagement. 

Programming is directed at the entire alumni population, but a special focus is placed on three constituencies: students, recent graduates and Golden Alumni. With staff focused on programmatic and needs assessment, the Office of Alumni Relations continually expands its reach to alumni and engages them in the way that makes the most sense for them individually. The office also offers an array of benefits to all alumni, such as discounts on goods and services in coordination with internal and external affinity partners. 

What does this department do?

• Develops and leads the universitywide strategy for alumni engagement. 
• Manages academic, geographic, identity and shared-interest alumni networks.
• Provides staff-directed programming related to reunions, recognition events, lifelong learning, industry networking, personal and professional development, social interaction and community engagement.
• Serves as a central resource for all school- and unit-based DAR teams, particularly in the areas of alumni volunteer management and recognition.
• Partners with alumni volunteer leaders who serve on the VCU Alumni Council and in constituent organizations.
• Strategizes for and monitors all outreach and engagement budgetary actions.
• Serves on collaborative programming teams with University Development, Strategic Marketing and Engagement, all school-based development teams and other university partners to plan events and programs, such as VCU’s presence at the Atlantic 10 tournament and presidential travel.

Key department team members

• Elizabeth Bass (M.S.W.’03), associate vice president, Alumni Relations

When should you contact this department?

• If you need assistance developing academic, geographic, identity or shared-interest alumni constituent organizations.
• If you have interest in connecting with lifelong learning, industry-based, career development or professional development-focused programming for alumni. 
• If you need a primary liaison in the VCU Office of Alumni Relations.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

Inclusive Engagement and Philanthropy at VCU creates deep and meaningful engagement and volunteer opportunities to foster belonging among VCU communities, while connecting them with philanthropic opportunities, individual and collective, to transform lives. This effort drives inclusive philanthropy practices throughout DAR and spotlights all DEIB funding opportunities at VCU.

What does this department do?

During its inaugural year, calendar year 2023, Inclusive Engagement and Philanthropy discovers what exists at VCU, reviews and interprets data on our current alumni and donors against what national research demonstrates about giving from various identity groups, and best practices in higher education. Initial areas of focus are women’s philanthropy and Black and African American philanthropy.

Team lead

• Amy Gray Beck, Ph.D. (Ph.D.’19), executive director, Inclusive Engagement and Philanthropy

When should you contact this department?

• If you need assistance developing constituency-based programs or scholarships.
• If you have best practices to share
• If you want to get involved in the women’s philanthropy book club.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

The office collaborates with campus partners in identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of significant gifts that often span the university. The principal giving program serves donors and prospects with the capacity and affinity to make transformational gifts to any area of VCU. The strategy emphasizes the power of ongoing, high-touch relationships with these donors and prospects. These gifts honor donor passions, respect their multiple interests and bridge external interests with institutional priorities. They also allow donors to stretch their philanthropic partnership with VCU in new ways.

What does this department do?

The senior associate vice president coordinates the teams focused on the university’s lifetime relationships with donors and their families. All gifts of $1 million or more signify a tremendous investment, and these philanthropic relationships involve the president, the board and university/health system leadership as applicable.

Team lead

• Magnus Johnsson (M.P.A.’10/GPA; Cert.’10/H&S), senior associate vice president, presidential and university philanthropy

When should you contact this department?

If you have specific questions in the areas of principal gifts ($1 million or more), gift planning, university development, presidential engagement or corporation/foundation giving.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

Transformational Philanthropy at VCU seeks to join the resources of truly aspirational people to the visionary dreams that will transform VCU to reach its highest purposes in benefiting our students, our patients and our world community.

What does this department do?

Transformational Philanthropy at VCU uses a team approach to engage the top campaign projects as identified by the president, focusing on seven- and eight-figure gifts.  

Team lead

• Thomas Maness, M.P.A., associate vice president for Transformational Philanthropy

When should you contact this department?

If you have questions about the four transformational philanthropy projects: Arts and Innovation Academic Building, Medicines for All Institute, Massey Cancer Center and the proposed VCU School of Population Health, and VCU Athletic Village.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

The mission of the Office of Gift Planning is to identify, cultivate and steward donors who provide long-term charitable support via a range of gift options and to provide support to the VCU development community in their pursuit of these gifts. 

What does this department do?

Provides gift planning support to Monroe Park Campus partners as well as to MCV Campus partners as requested.

Team lead

• Ann Deppman, J.D., assistant vice president of gift planning

When should you contact this department?

If you need assistance or information on: complex or estate and planned gifts, including bequests, gifts from IRAs or financial accounts, life insurance gifts, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, gifts of real estate and retained life estates; to discuss gift strategies; or to obtain gift illustrations to provide to prospects.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

The mission of the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations is to secure private support for university priorities by fostering relationships with corporations, foundations and other organizations. Activities include developing strategies for engaging and advancing relationships with foundations and corporations; planning and developing institutional proposals for university priorities; assisting campus partners and faculty in identifying, soliciting and stewarding corporate and foundation funders; training and assisting faculty in proposal development; and coordinating approaches to presidential and leadership corporate and foundation prospects.

What does this department do?

Manages a portfolio of corporate and foundation prospects, establishes long-term partnerships and strengthens existing relationships with prospects that will result in funding to support the immediate and long-term goals of the university. Researches and identifies new sources of support and looks for opportunities to generate proposals based on donor guidelines and interests. 

Team lead

• Ariana Bracalente, senior associate director, foundation relations and principal giving

When should you contact this department?

• If you need information about corporations and foundations.
• If you need assistance with proposal development for centrally managed corporations and foundations as well as coordination with other campus partners.
• If you need assistance with planning, prospect cultivation of proposal development for corporations and foundations in which funding requests are $50,000 or more or are with local foundations with which VCU has active relationships.
• If you need assistance in determining whether a grant opportunity is philanthropic or a sponsored project.

How does this department fulfill the DAR mission?

The mission of University Development is to model high-performance fundraising behaviors and sound university citizenship that inspire and foster lifelong relationships and philanthropic engagement to advance VCU. The office is dedicated to supporting the fundraising and engagement goals of DAR while creating value through four distinct service areas: digital engagement, leadership annual giving, major gifts and regional events.    

What does this department do?

Each team is led by a director of university development and maintains a specific focus within their area. The engagement team works through prospects with specific ratings to qualify and refer to the appropriate campus partner. Leadership annual giving (called university gift) solicits prospects for gifts of $1,000-$24,999 across all areas at VCU. The major gift team (called University Development) solicits prospects for gifts at the $50,000-$249,999 level across all areas. The regional events team is led by the assistant vice president and coordinates senior university leadership programming in key markets throughout the U.S.  

Team lead

• Chad Krouse, Ed.D. (Ed.D.’18), assistant vice president, University Development

When should you contact this department?

If you need prospect engagement, gift strategy assistance or presidential engagement.