Loyola College Prep Faculty/Staff Appeal Success

Loyola College Prep in Shreveport, Louisiana has witnessed much early success in their $4.1 million capital campaign, Loyola Forever. Their success has been illustrated in many ways-from successful appointment making, to cultivation visits, to major gift giving-but an early indication of success was evident through the faculty/staff appeal.

Loyola attributes the success of this very important appeal to the structure of its employee volunteer leadership and also the passion of its faculty and staff members. Loyola first identified and recruited a volunteer team that fit the organization and reached out to all faculty and staff. One chairman may work, but for Loyola, they decided on three co-chairs. One was a senior statesman who had been at the school the longest of any faculty. The second was a young woman who had influence with the young teachers and is in only her second year at the school. Loyola rounded this team out with a dynamic personality, a coach and math teacher who has been at the school for 10 years and is well respected by all the staff.

J.F. Smith Group associates and Loyola campaign leadership met with the team early and shared the story and vision. We emphasized the fact that this campaign affected all aspects of the education at Loyola. All programs and students win! We made it clear 100% participation was the goal. Donors are inspired when they see that the faculty and staff have given to the campaign. JFSG has learned that mission-based, quality academic education inspired by a committed and invested faculty and staff is the single strongest factor in motivating donors to give to your school. Before we reach out to the community, we must be able to say the board and faculty and staff our committed and invested.

On the day of the faculty/staff appeal, this team of co-chairs spoke to the audience. They were very knowledgeable of the projects and benefits, but also highly motivated to reach the goal of 100% participation regardless of the gift amount. They made a high energy appeal filled with humor and emotion.

Loyola quickly and enthusiastically reached the goal of 100% and celebrated with a plaque from JFSG. The presentation of this plaque again emphasized how academics and the support of the faculty and staff are important factors for success in Loyola's campaign, and that the faculty and staff had truly "made a difference."