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Next Capital Campaign Could Start Next Year

The University’s next fundraising campaign, expected to be launched next year, could have a goal of between $3.5 billion and $4 billion, according to a memo to the chancellor from Matt Kupec ’80, vice chancellor for University advancement. The drive would be close on the heels of the Carolina First Campaign, which raised $2.38 billion before it concluded at the end of 2007.

According to the Office of University Advancement, the campaign would be designed to “dramatically enhance Carolina’s position as the premier leader in public higher education … and provide even more new resources to support additional leading teaching, research, and service.”

The rationale for the campaign is based on the success of Carolina First and the projected needs of the growing university.

Kupec emphasized that a campaign is in the early planning stages. In a letter to The Daily Tar Heel — in which he criticized coverage that he said made it appear the campaign was under way — he wrote that the current strategy “includes recruiting a volunteer committee to work with us on a plan for a new campaign. Those efforts would include deliberations about crafting a case statement to generate support from donors” and to settle on a timeline, a monetary goal and a name for the campaign.

The memo was given to the Board of Trustees to accompany Kupec’s presentation to the board Sept. 23.

The new campaign would come with some costs. The advancement office has proposed a budget increase of $4.49 million in recurring funds over three years. Of that money, $3.3 million would go toward the creation of 13 new fundraising positions and 15 fundraising support positions. Another $1.16 million would go to the Office of University Relations for a related integrated marketing campaign.

The proposal also asks for $6.5 million in one-time funding for infrastructure needs including a new, $3.5 million software system for the University’s alumni development information system, and $3 million to renovate the University Development Office and help with construction of a new building for the Office of Advancement. The new software system would involve the GAA, which is responsible for maintaining alumni records on behalf of the University.

The Office of University Advancement’s new campaign goal and marketing plan were developed based on recommendations from Core Group Inc., a consulting group that studies higher education fundraising data to help plan future initiatives.

According to the advancement office, the new capital campaign could kick off with a silent phase in July 2009.


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