In 2001, EmoryGives, the University’s corporate giving campaign, raised more money for charity ($458,000) than any year in its history. Mindful of the tough act it needs to follow, the 2002 edition of EmoryGives will begin Oct. 1 with a renewed commitment to help local nonprofit organizations fulfill their important missions.

Having undergone a significant restructuring prior to last year, when four new charitable partners were added to the mix, EmoryGives’ setup is similar to 2001.

EmoryGives’ roster of charitable partners (Community Health Charities of Georgia, Earth Share of Georgia, Georgia Black United Fund, Georgia Shares, United Fund of Covington-Newton County and United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta) remains the same, and donors can earmark their gifts to any or all of the partners.

One area where 2002 will differ slightly is in EmoryGives’ effort to advocate volunteerism among employees. The 2001 campaign, for the first time, introduced faculty and staff to organizations where they could contribute their time as well as their money. It was a mild success, but Director of Corporate Giving Michelle Smith sees more potential.

Last year EmoryGives simply collected information on volunteer activities and posted it on the campaign website, but this year, Smith plans to aggressively promote volunteer opportunities to drum up more buzz about the project.

The new EmoryGives video, which Smith screens for groups to whom she is invited to speak, reflects the theme of volunteerism and highlights three members of the Emory community who donate their time and effort to worthy causes.

“I’ve already been to about five departments, and I’m booked through November,” Smith said.

By most any measure, Emory’s 2001 corporate giving campaign was a rousing success. Not only did EmoryGives collect more than $458,000 for its six charitable partners ($77,000 more than in 2000), the average gift per donor went up, more than 500 new donors gave, and the number of $1,000 donors (termed “Emory Angels”) rose more than 30 percent.

Smith said one of the reasons for the performance increase was better coordination by the campaign among Emory’s many institutions: the University, hospitals, Oxford, etc.

“With all of these entities cooperating, that created a much stronger and balanced program,” Smith said.

The only area in which EmoryGives did not meet its goal was in participation, which slipped from 10 percent in 2000 to just 6.9 percent last year. It is that number Smith aims to bring back up.

“If we can get 10 percent of everybody giving, we will make our goal,” Smith said. “In fact, we could get half a million [dollars]. That’s what I really want to make this year.”
Moneywise, EmoryGives’ goal in 2002 is actually less than was collected in 2001: $415,000. The campaign will run through Dec. 31, but checks were accepted for last year’s effort as late as March.

In addition to volunteerism, Smith said she also wants to stress the campaign’s growing partnerships. In November, for the price of a $5 ticket, members of the Emory community will be treated to a discount shopping spree at metro-area Parisian stores.

Also that month, Emory-Gives is partnering with the American Heart Association for its annual Heart Walk, Nov. 17. Emory faculty and staff can donate to the Heart Walk through EmoryGives, and all money provided will count toward EmoryGives’ goal.

For more information about EmoryGives, refer to the campaign website at www.emorygives.emory.edu.