From the judges: Very nice proposal that takes into account the donor family's relationship with the university and the museum, as well as their interest in the arts. Clear and concise delineation of different impact opportunities. Smart to include different ways to give, as the donor may not have thought of gift planning.
Defining the Cutting Edge of Contemporary: The Manetti Shrem Museum
Category
Fundraising > Targeted Campaigns
Description
Award: Gold
Institution: University of California, Davis
Title of Entry: Defining the Cutting Edge of Contemporary: The Manetti Shrem Museum
About this Entry: This tailored proposal, “Defining the Cutting Edge of Contemporary: The Manetti Shrem Museum of Art,” was created to solicit a donor family for a comprehensive leadership gift to support the arts at UC Davis. The Manetti Shrem Museum is a recent addition to our campus, but in fewer than four years it has gone from opening its doors as UC Davis’ newest crown jewel to claiming a distinctive niche among the nation’s top museums. Free and open to the public, the museum is reviving our reputation for pushing the boundaries of creative expression and seeking recognition as a best-in-class model that redefines how university museums engage with students, artists and communities. The document’s lively, dynamic design brought the museum and its culture to life, while its prose recognized the donors’ long commitment to UC Davis and emphasized the meaningful impacts their gift could make that would resonate with their philanthropic priorities and vision for their family legacy.
This proposal was prepared for an alumni family that is engaged with the university’s leadership and committed to supporting the institution’s future in a variety of areas, including the arts. The gift opportunity was structured to offer a highly visible naming opportunity within the museum that would celebrate the family’s philanthropic legacy at UC Davis as well as a gift to one of several endowed funds that speak to the donors’ various passions.