{"id":851,"date":"2023-03-31T08:36:54","date_gmt":"2023-03-30T21:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/educateplus-qld\/?post_type=article&p=851"},"modified":"2023-03-31T08:36:54","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T21:36:54","slug":"the-half-million-dollar-gift","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/educateplus-qld\/article\/the-half-million-dollar-gift\/","title":{"rendered":"The Half-Million-Dollar Gift"},"content":{"rendered":"
Written by Petrina Gilmore, <\/strong>Director of Philanthropy,\u00a0<\/strong>Somerville House Foundation<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n

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How a Call from the Blue Turned into a Half-Million-Dollar Gift <\/strong><\/p>\n

In May 2022 we announced a\u00a0$500,000 gift<\/a><\/strong> matched by the Somerville House Foundation to deliver $1M to enhance educational opportunities at the School. Our initial benefactor, a former student who achieved success as a C-Suite executive and leader in the Asia Pacific, initiated a conversation to see how she could best support current and future students.<\/p>\n

Those early tentative conversations did not end as I had anticipated, as she sounded me out, and as I tried to get a feel for where her interest lay. After our first long telephone conversation, I wrote to her \u2018I wish I\u2019d spoken less and listened more\u2019.<\/p>\n

So, how did I get from the occasional email and rare call to securing a major gift?<\/p>\n

We explored Scholarships, Leadership Programs, the Master Plan, buildings, facilities and more.\u00a0Over time I became aware that she adopted a business perspective, as she looked to find the avenue that would leverage the greatest impact from her gift.<\/p>\n

Why Getting Your \u2018Ducks in a Row\u2019 Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was clear from astute questions that she was across all Foundation activities: supporting the decision to incorporate means-testing for Foundation Scholarships and committed to building a culture of philanthropy for our girls, as rich as that in boys\u2019 schools<\/p>\n

Our correspondence featured links to articles and campaign literature that gave my cause authenticity and veracity.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been called a \u2018desktop fundraiser\u2019 \u2013 and it\u2019s true!<\/p>\n

My priority has always been to put forward a persuasive\u00a0Case for Support<\/em>\u00a0that reinforces priorities and fundraising objectives, crafting a cohesive narrative across all platforms. This includes:<\/p>\n