Tier 3, Fundraising: Interview with SVP Angela Minniefield
CDU Senior Vice President Angela Minniefield has been an active advocate of the 4-Year MD Program since its early stages. She offers insights into the process of raising funds for the endeavor.
You’ ve been very adept at managing CDUs various fundraising needs. How do you and your team establish funding priorities? Does data play a significant role?
My team and I establish funding priorities in concert with the Board of Trustees and the executive leadership of the University, using the Strategic Plan as a roadmap of activities that are to occur over a certain time span. In terms of data playing a significant role? It certainly does, in terms of how we define our objectives. We need to understand, for example, how much do we want to increase enrollment. How much scholarship assistance do we want to be able to offer students either through a discounting program or direct scholarship, or something of that nature. How many students? Are we seeking to award scholarships? Is it a certain percentage or number? Is it totally according to financial need? Who gets priority?
What are the some of the challenges in soliciting funds for a major project such as the four-year Independent Medical School?
I think in terms of challenges from individuals, and to some extent, corporate donors and foundations that are outside of the Los Angeles area, we still really need to elevate the CDU brand. Because what we do where our alumni are located actually has a very national presence in some of the states and the nation’ s most underserved areas. Economically disadvantaged areas, communities of color, and with folks that otherwise just wouldn’ t know that we exist.
When you think about where individual philanthropists are making their investments, we are the exact prototype for an institution that is serving those who are most disadvantaged. Medically disenfranchised, whatever you want to name it, they may not think or know about CDU. And so that’ s a challenge. We need more ambassadors out there sharing the good news, and more importantly, the good work of CDU.
Why is need so important in the fundraising process?
People want to feel good about what they’ re making their investment in, whether it’ s their time, their finances, or their expertise. And so being able to really articulate a need, and then have folks say,‘ I want to jump on that bandwagon. I want to be part of that,’ helps to satisfy a personal need, and in our case, a real societal need.
Definitely articulating the need and telling a story that resonates with people is part and parcel of the fundraising process. And you really can’ t do that without a story, without something to compel somebody to say,‘ I want to do this, I want to help make a difference’. Because otherwise why help someone without need when you can help people that are in need?
What role does relationship building and donor cultivation play in fundraising?
It’ s the primary role. It’ s all about networking. One thing that we can all do is identify persons of interest. And by that, I mean persons who just might be interested
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 17