During the last two years, the UC San Diego Office of Gift Planning, in partnership with the Office of Donor Experience and Engagement, has created a multi-faceted and comprehensive stewardship program for our York Society members — donors to the university who have included UC San Diego in their gift planning.
From the Judges
We were impressed with the comprehensive, mission-driven stewardship plan that UCSD created and implemented for its planned giving donors. Planned giving donors are an important audience, requiring sustained and creative stewardship, and UCSD’s plan was unique and varied. The calendar provides monthly touchpoints in the form of the cards, which are both attractive and interesting. Even if donors do not click through emails or attend events, they are receiving something new each time they change the calendar. Very compelling description from the entry: “These cards represent the revolutionary ideas, unexpected answers, lifesaving discoveries, and planet-changing impact of projects across the UC San Diego campus.” The event was a great opportunity to foster connections to UCSD and other York Society members, and its success is evident in the resulting large gifts (including an endowment). The reading list and book mark is our favorite part of the entry – especially the variety of titles that would appeal to readers with different interests.
