Session Description:In 2025, during Murdoch University's 50th anniversary year, a landmark gift of $100m was signed to redevelop the School of Veterinary Medicine - Western Australian's only veterinary medicine school. What makes this story unique isn’t just about the size of the gift—it’s the journey and the evolution of Murdoch University (a non-Go8) and the Advancement function in securing the mega gift. Murdoch University faced some hurdles over the years, leaving alumni engagement and philanthropic strategies underdeveloped. This presentation isn’t about a magic formula or a radical new approach; it’s about reaffirming what we all know: the importance of creativity and intentional stewardship for deeper engagement. Discover how Murdoch purposefully engaged the donor, along with his circle of influence to shape conversations which strategically aligned with institutional priorities to secure a historic philanthropic gift to transform veterinary medicine.

As Murdoch University is a non-Go8 which secured a mega gift (the largest within a Western Australian university and one of the largest in Australia) there has been vast interest which are typically only seen in Go8 universities which also led to extensive media interest both domestically and globally. For many years, MU faced reputational challenges and operated with minimal investment in Advancement, resulting in limited alumni engagement and underdeveloped philanthropic strategies. This example demonstrates the power of a bespoke, well-executed stewardship strategy which led to conversations as to "what MU would do with $100 million". Equally important is the partnership between the Advancement leader and the Vice Chancellor, and the deliberate engagement of key influencers—such as other directors and friends connected to the donor’s PAF. A powerful reminder about the importance of stewardship!