Member Spotlight: Elizabeth Duffy

Name: Elizabeth Duffy
Institution: University College Dublin, Ireland
Position: Associate Director, Stewardship – UCD Foundation
ADRP member for 1 year.

How long have you worked in donor relations/stewardship and how did you get involved in this profession?

I have worked for over fifteen years in donor relations/stewardship. My first appointment in UCD was as Alumni Relations Manager. Within three years and as a result of observing key operational and financial needs in what was UCD Alumni Development Office, my years of experience in the hospitality industry were brought into play and I was appointed as Operations Manager. As the team grew a Finance Manager was appointed a number of years later. This provided the opportunity to highlight the importance of meeting the donors’ intentions and expectations and to develop key stewardship, fund management and donor relations practices. The critical function of stewardship and the need to develop long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with our alumni, prospects and donors now permeates everything we do in UCD Foundation.

Could you tell us something about the organization you work for?

UCD is one of Europe's leading research-intensive universities; an environment where undergraduate education, masters and PhD training, research, innovation and community engagement, form a dynamic spectrum of activity.

Since its foundation, the University has made a unique contribution to the creation of modern Ireland, based on successful engagement with Irish society on every level and across every sphere of activity. UCD is also Ireland's most globally engaged university with over 33,000 students drawn from 144 countries, including almost 4,000 students based at locations outside of Ireland.

UCD Foundation engages in fundraising and alumni engagement to support UCD in its pursuit of world-class education, teaching, research and innovation. Alumni Relations, Annual Giving, Information Services and Development make up UCD Foundation’s structure.

UCD Foundation has an outstanding track record in supporting UCD’s strategic goals and ambitions for advancing excellence in education, research and scholarship, for the benefit of Ireland and global society. Since 1998, the Foundation has raised over €228 million in philanthropic donations. Over the past 7 years alone, over €90 million has been raised to complete major capital campaigns, including UCD O’Brien Centre for Science Phases I & II, UCD Sutherland School of Law and UCD College of Business. Aside from capital campaigns, philanthropic funds raised through UCD Foundation have supported thousands of scholarships and bursaries, provided critical resources for research, and helped establish academic chairs in a number of colleges.

What do you like most about being a member of the ADRP?

I enjoy the engaging monthly webinars and the opportunity to learn from the invaluable experiences of its members. The Hub and the Community Digest are precious resources, and I look forward to widening my network and making new contacts.

What is your greatest donor relations/stewardship achievement?

I think the development of the stewardship function and the cumulative impact it has had on developing a culture of philanthropy at UCD has been my, and my colleagues’, greatest achievement. Strong donor relations and engagement are now an integral part of our fundraising activities and an accepted component of philanthropy on campus. It is also seen as a shared responsibility with the various colleges and schools and not the sole responsibility of UCD Foundation. 

How big a role does the use of social media play in your work?

The role of social media has grown incrementally in the last year as we pivoted our alumni and donor relations activities online due to the restrictions placed on all of us during the pandemic. Social media has allowed us to drive the development, launch and coordination of key online events and webinars with our alumni donors and prospects worldwide, to showcase the University, to engage various audiences, and to promote and showcase our alumni achievements and donor stories to the wider audience.

What is the most important professional goal you are currently pursuing, i.e., attaining a degree, preparing to give a presentation, launching an initiative at work or in your community, etc.?

I enrolled in UCD’s Leadership and People Management Programme. This programme focuses on developing UCD’s faculty and support personnel. This year’s stimulating modules included Leading through uncertainty; Developing teamwork in a hybrid environment; Building resilience, well-being and fostering collaboration; and Leading change through constructive conversations. All very timely and instructive as we pivoted all our activities and practises to working from home.

What has been your biggest work challenge during Covid-19?

The biggest challenge for me was delivering our stewardship plans for the year with limited resources. Going into lockdown, the recruitment of two key vacancies—Stewardship Assistant, Fund Compliance Officer—were put on hold until the board were happy that our income had not been impacted by the pandemic. Thankfully in December, we were given the green flag and the two posts’ budgets were approved. Once a new Stewardship Assistant was appointed, the next challenge was onboarding a new colleague who had not worked in UCD nor in Advancement before. The latter has been a very positive experience even though we have not met each other in person as yet.

Is there a resource, i.e., book, blog, website, etc., that you would recommend to other ADRP members?

I think that most members will find Sofii—https://sofii.org/ a showcase of fundraising innovation and inspiration—a wonderful, easily accessible, free archive of fundraising creativity and innovation from around the world. It is always a joy to visit. 

What is the best piece of professional advice you have ever received?

“Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way.” I was presented with this quote at a very early stage in my career and it has been my silent mantra ever since. Nevertheless, diplomacy demands that you fully understand what you mean. You need to be empathetic and able to sense accurately when to share your ideas in a well-meaning fashion. All skills that require constant practise and informed judgement.

Are there any particular stories, insights, etc., from your experiences in donor relations and stewardship that you would like to share with our colleagues?

A number of years ago, I attended a CASE seminar on Stewarding Principal Gifts and one of the panelists shared one of his principal donor’s answers when asked what his best stewardship experience was. The gentleman in question had generously supported a number of universities in the US and the UK and he replied: ‘I generally find that my best stewarding experiences are before I make a gift!’ I have always remembered that anecdote and have shared it numerous times when expanding our stewardship plans with the development team and customising our plans for our major donors. As we engage and cultivate our prospects and donors, and anticipate their next gift, it is crucial to ensure that stewardship is part of the overall donor relations strategy as we prepare for a long-term positive relationship with the donor.