Team lead: Amy Gray Beck, Ph.D. (Ph.D.’19), executive director, Affinity Engagement and Philanthropy

• Affinity Engagement and Philanthropy jointly reports to Alumni Engagement and Primary Giving. 

How does this team fulfill the DAR mission?

• AEP Mission: “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.”
• AEP Purpose: Drives affinity-led philanthropy practices throughout DAR, to help modernize giving at VCU by offering new, additive avenues to support the institution Specifically, AEP’s contributions extend DAR’s core values to “champion inclusivity” and “demonstrate tenacity,” by providing collective means to change how constituents see themselves as VCU supporters.

What does this team do?

• Combines data, feedback from  alumni and donors, and national research to inform modern stewardship practices.
• Supports and manages volunteer-led advisory organizations (e.g. VCU’s Women’s Impact Network)
• Provides training and resources on affinity-based alumni engagement and philanthropy best practices.
• Serves as DAR’s internal Appreciative Inquiry practitioners, offering guidance on strategically crafted community-driven work (e.g. focus groups, listening session, learning opportunities).

When should you contact this team?

• If you need assistance developing constituency-based programs or scholarships, or want guidance on implementing the Appreciative Inquiry methodological process.
• If you think you have a constituent interested in joining the VCU Black Alumni Council, VCU Military Veterans Alumni Association, Rams For Pride, the VCU Family Leadership Circle, or the VCU Women’s Impact Network
• If you have affinity engagement or philanthropy best practices to share.

Team lead: James Wasilewski, executive director, Leadership Annual Giving

How does this team fulfill the DAR mission?

• Increases philanthropic support for specified CSUs by engaging donors at the leadership annual giving level (typically under $50,000).
• Fosters long-term donor relationships that lead to sustained giving and potential major gift engagement.
• Advances a culture of philanthropy across the university by connecting constituents to areas of personal passion and impact.
• Develops future fundraising talent through robust coaching, mentorship and professional development opportunities.
• Strengthens collaboration and alignment across fundraising teams to support campaign readiness and donor-centered engagement.

What does this team do?

• Develops and manages an identified or developed prospect and donor pipeline for discovery, retention/renewals, upgrades and major gift qualification/referrals.  
• Manages portfolios of leadership annual giving prospects through personalized outreach, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Partners with CSU lead development officers and teams to execute annual strategies aligned with unit priorities connected with frontline donor engagement and fundraising.
• Solicits donors for readily accessible, high-impact funds such as annual funds and scholarships.
• Identifies, qualifies and refers prospects for major gift consideration including planned giving prospects.
• Strategically supports alumni engagement, volunteer opportunities and other forms of internal and external constituent or stakeholder involvement.
• Participates significantly in end-of-calendar-year outreach, end-of-fiscal-year outreach and Giving Day campaign efforts
• Participates in ongoing training, mentorship and talent development initiatives to strengthen fundraising expertise.

Who does this team support?

• College of Engineering
• College of Health Professions
• College of Humanities and Sciences
• School of the Arts
• School for Business, Brandcenter and da Vinci Center for Innovation
• School of Dentistry
• School of Education
• School of Nursing
• School of Pharmacy
• School of Social Work
• VCU Libraries
• L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

When should you contact this team?

• If you need strategic support for annual fund and leadership-level donor outreach (especially under $50,000).
• If you want to engage or reengage donors in your CSU’s priority areas or programming.
• If you need help identifying or qualifying new donors for your CSU or planning targeted outreach.
• If you have referrals or insights about constituents or stakeholders who might be interested in giving or getting involved.

Team lead: Jack Carmichael (M.A.’19), senior director, annual giving, Medical Philanthropy

How does this team fulfill the DAR mission?

The Medical Annual Giving team supports the DAR mission by building a strong pipeline of donor support through broad-based outreach and direct response campaigns. By engaging patients, families, alumni and community members at all giving levels, the team helps foster long-term philanthropic relationships that sustain and fuel VCU Health, the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, the School of Public Health, and the School of Medicine.

What does this team do?

• Develops and manages direct response campaigns (mail, email and digital) to inspire annual gifts across medical and health priorities.
  
• Collaborates with clinical teams and development officers to create annual giving strategies that support grateful patient, alumni and house staff outreach and campaign goals.

When should you contact this team?

• If you want to promote an MPAR fund or initiative through print or digital giving channels.
• If you need support developing a campaign or solicitation strategy for a medical philanthropy audience.
• If you have questions about MPAR’s Giving Day initiatives or appeals.

Team lead: Jenna Hart, senior director, constituent marketing, University Annual Giving

How does this team fulfill the DAR mission?

The University Annual Giving team supports the DAR mission by building a strong pipeline of donor support through broad-based outreach and direct response campaigns. 

• Increases philanthropic support for specified CSUs by soliciting donors and prospects at primary giving levels.
• Builds long-term donor relationships that lead to sustained giving and potential major gift engagement.
• Advances a culture of philanthropy across the university community by communicating opportunities to give at all levels and areas through mass communication efforts.
• Often acts as the first point of contact in a donor's philanthropic journey.
• Strengthens collaboration and alignment across fundraising teams to support campaign readiness and donor-centered engagement.

What does this team do?

• As part of the Primary Giving team, University Annual Giving focuses on raising funds at $50k and below by engaging and soliciting support from alumni and other constituents through various channels, including email, mail, online platforms and crowdfunding.

When should you contact this team?

• If you have a question about a mass solicitation communication effort including mail, email, or crowdfunding initiative. 
• If you need strategic support for annual fund and mass solicitation outreach (especially under $50,000).
• If you have questions about the results of a recent direct marketing effort that was part of a central primary giving solicitation. 
• If you have questions about an existing cause showing up on the crowdfunding platform.
• If you have questions about how to get a cause page listed on the crowdfunding platform.