Diversifying Prospects and Volunteers | Michigan Medicine Development Campaign

Raaj Govil

Political Science and Economics (Class of 2025) Hails From: Rochester Hills, MI

Michigan Medicine Development Campaign

Project Showcase:

Project Description:

Over the summer, I developed a project aimed at diversifying the donor base at Michigan Medicine (MM). Recognizing the need to bring our philanthropic initiatives in line with our values of diversity and health equity, the project was designed to enhance our existing donor prospecting methods.

My plan put forward a series of strategic actions to engage a broader set of potential donors, including alumni, local businesses, and faith-based organizations. Central to the project was the formation of the Diverse Donor Engagement Taskforce (DDET). This dedicated team’s mission was to improve inclusivity within our fundraising efforts, spearhead the creation of stronger community ties, and lead educational workshops to foster an appreciation of diversity within our organization. The project underscored that a diverse donor base not only enhances financial stability, but also plays a crucial role in achieving our broader mission of health equity and improved community health outcomes.

The Strategy Plan

Project Impact:

While the project’s impacts may not be immediate, the potential for positive change at MM is considerable. Diving into a wider range of communities will open up new perspectives, creating a more complete and inclusive picture of healthcare. By understanding and addressing the unique struggles of minority communities, I hope this project fosters a healthcare environment that better represents and supports everyone. 

On top of that, engaging with donors from diverse backgrounds could spark a chain reaction of positive change. By weaving DEI practices into their fundraising efforts, I hope MM will see firsthand the many benefits of a diverse donor pool. More so than financial gain, I would like this project to serve as a commitment to health equity, one of the core pillars of Michigan Medicine’s goals. If all goes as planned, this project will set in motion a positive cycle of DEI initiatives in fundraising that will help to make it a leader in healthcare stewardship. 

Skills Learned:

• Further insights into DEI
• Benchmarking
• Research Skills
• Persuasive Skills

Raaj Govil, D-SIP 2023

Impact Driven Fundraising | Institute for Social Research

Jerome Nichols

Communication and Media (Class of 2024) Hails From: Belleville, MI

Institute for Social Research

Project Showcase:

Project Description:

As an intern at the Institute for Social Research (ISR), I assisted in revamping the ISR website to make it more navigable for students who are applying for fellowships and awards, and donors who are looking to make contributions to fund research projects. In my role, I worked as a continuation of the development team and alongside the communications team. I was responsible for creating a blueprint for the website’s Fellowships and Awards tab and creating suggestions to assist those utilizing the website. Additionally, I composed a stewardship journal that was sent to a donor who has a scholarship endowment through ISR, learned how to navigate and use DART, completed development training, and meet with all of my colleagues to get a better understanding of their work responsibilities. This work has been extremely valuable in helping ISR amplify its message by enhancing the accessibility of its website for donors and students.

Project Impact:

The work that I completed will beneficially impact donors and graduate students conducting social research projects. In my project, I pitched a proposal on ways to improve the navigability for donors on the website. With the basis of my proposal being to create numerous ways for donors to donate, my proposal will positively impact donors who are not technologically literate and will give them a way to donate in more ways than the original amount listed on the website.

Additionally, my blueprint of the ISR Fellowships and Awards tab will beneficially impact students. When ISR implements my blueprint, fellowships will be easier for students to apply to. The deadline information, award amount, terms of use of awards, eligibility, and more information will be present on the web page, so students no longer have to scavenge for all the information they need to apply. This will help long-term, meaning that if the website is easier to navigate, there is a likelihood that more people will apply to the fellowships and awards, and recommend the website to others who are seeking funds for their research projects.

Skills Learned:

• Networking- through conversations with my supervisors, I was connected with top directors in the development and created lifelong relationships with my colleagues in ISR.
• Researching Skills- worked with DART, LinkedIn, and other academic fellowship pages to search for ways to improve the ISR website.
• Benchmarking Skills- Use academic sources and popular entertainment sources when designing the website page.
• Maturity- Had to balance football practices and meetings with my work responsibilities and personal life.
• Communication Skills- Had to communicate with my ISR supervisors, D-SIP supervisors, and coaches when my schedules conflicted, and had to make up time when one of my responsibilities collided with another.

“Control the controllable.”

Jerome Nichols, D-SIP 2023

Digital Tools for Recruitment and Retention | Office of University Development

Elena Wong- Carrillo

Political Science, (Class of 2023)

Hails From: Rochester, MI

Office of University Development: People & Culture/Marketing and Communications

Project Showcase video:

Project Description:

Over the course of my summer internship, I had the opportunity to work on a project to enhance the Office of University Development’s connection with prospective employees through their website and LinkedIn. This involved a comprehensive analysis of the Leaders & Best careers presence and social media tactics, as well as benchmarking 14 organizations competing for top talent. Additionally, I analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of our Leaders and Best website, comparing it to the benchmarked organizations’ career websites and LinkedIn profiles. This research was instrumental in helping me develop recommendations for an improved website and social media processes as we prepare for a new fundraising campaign. 

Project Impact:

The impact of my summer at D-SIP was profound and transformational for me. Firstly, it helped me gain valuable skills and confidence in benchmarking, which I had never done before. This new skill has helped me feel more confident about continuing to learn in a new capacity after university. Additionally, the opportunity to work on the project allowed me to immerse myself in the world of development with a strong focus on building relationships with potential employees. This perspective provided me with a deeper understanding of the diversity of the talent pool in the development field and how that plays a pivotal role in bringing philanthropic projects to life. As part of my project, I created phases for the implementation of my recommendations, and I am hopeful that they will help bring more talented individuals to support the great mission of development at Michigan.

Skills Learned:

• Social Media Strategy Development: Developed a comprehensive social media strategy to enhance visibility, appeal, and access to a diverse pool of applicants. This involved assessing and benchmarking competing organizations’ marketing efforts on LinkedIn.
• Web Presence Analysis: Conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Office of University Development’s existing careers web presence, gaining insights into effective web strategies used by rival organizations in talent acquisition.

“Believe” Ted Lasso

Elena Wong, D-SIP 2023

A Community Centered Development Framework | Office of University Development

Cassidy Brimer

Communication and Media in Gender, Race, and Nation (Class of 2025) Hails From: Whitmore Lake, MI

Office of University Development Marketing and Communications

Project Showcase:

Project Description:

As a Marketing and Communications Intern for the Office of University of Michigan Development, I was responsible for determining and analyzing what made an effective development communications e-newsletter. This was for the purpose of making Leaders and Best (a philanthropy newsletter that goes out to donors at U of M) the best it can be. My work included benchmarking and evaluation of more than 15 other e-newsletters, the completion of interviews with highly regarded newsletter professionals, and doing external research into crucial newsletter factors (including frequency, length, design, format, testing, interactivity, testing, etc). Additionally, I completed an organized record of every Leaders and Best newsletter issue, and gathered the most popular stories from this data for financial year 2022 and financial year 2023. Last but not least, I compiled all important information and findings into a slideshow and presented this to my team. This work has been very valuable by providing clarity and a fresh perspective to the Leaders and Best team about what exactly makes an effective e-newsletter. This information will ultimately be used to further educate people about philanthropy at Michigan, and continue to demonstrate Michigan’s philanthropic impacts. 

Project Impact:

  The work I did provided clarity to the Marketing and Communications team about many aspects of email and e-news marketing that had changed or shifted within the last few years. With a small but mighty team like OUD MarcComm’s, the staff did not have time to take a deep dive into these topics. I was able to spend many hours researching, and then simmer that information down into a digestible format for my team to absorb. 

My internship also allowed me to incorporate what I learned in my D-SIP classes into my final presentation. Learning about how the donor base is changing and the incorrect idea that all donors are rich white men really stuck with me— and is what ultimately inspired me to suggest incorporating interactivity into future Leaders and Best emails. I also learned that philanthropy is not just the donation of money, but also includes the donation of time. Because this is often overlooked, I suggested that Leaders and Best begin to incorporate stories about volunteers giving their time in addition to stories about financial gifts. Finally, the concept of Community Centric Fundraising (as opposed to donor centric) inspired me to educate my team on the topic and suggest that Leaders and Best allow the community to subscribe to the e-newsletter also (not just donors). Overall, I believe my work will contribute to the further development of Leaders and Best, and help the e-newsletter stay relevant, interesting, and impactful.

Skills Learned:

• 1. Researching Skills, because I only pursued vetted, high quality opinions and ideas for external research
• 2. Relationship Building, as I worked closely with team members, and reached out to strangers for help and advice 
• 3. Communication, through networking with others, presenting my final project to my team, and advocating for my needs 
• 4. Interview Skills, as I pondered how to create a comfortable environment and how to ask questions that leave room for genuine answers

“Teehee”

Cassidy Brimer, D-SIP 2023

Donor Digital Experience Communication Planning | Office of University Development

Sabrena Chedid

UX Design (Class of 2025) Hails From: Dearborn Heights, MI

Donor Digital Experience, Office of University Development

Project Showcase:

Project Description:

Working with the Donor Digital Experience team to develop a holistic approach to strategizing, documenting, and implementing communication practices across U-M’s development community around the new OUD web experience. Prepare the U-M development community and our donors for the launch of the new Office of University Development (OUD) web experience.
At OUD, I was tasked with creating a communication plan for the new launch of the online giving website. I also edited and updated the Donor Digital Experience DevConnect intranet subsite that contributed to the communication of the upcoming launch of the new website. I helped edit and sort pictures for the new and improved website. 

Project Impact:

The impact of this project is to create a new website that is more appealing to broader audiences and to make it easier for old and new donors to have the best web experience possible. By creating a communication plan for this project I am able to prepare the OUD development community for the new website launch and inform internal teams about new plans. This was accomplished by editing the intranet subsite that includes FAQs and updated information about the project. 

Skills Learned:

• Communication: creating the communication plan for the project
• Teamwork: I worked with my supervisor and other team members when creating the communication plan and editing the intrasite 
• Web Design: designing and editing the intrasite gave me good insight and practice on what a good website can look like

“Don’t let your opportunities pass you by!”

Sabrena Chedid, D-SIP 2023

Impact and Scholarship Reporting | UM Dearborn – Institutional Advancement

Audrey Dozeman

International Studies and Japanese (Class of 2023) Hails From: Caledonia, Michigan

UM Dearborn – Institutional Advancement

Project Showcase:

Project Description:

This summer, I worked with UM-Dearborn on a number of projects that centered around benchmarking and impact reporting. My first deliverable was to congregate several sets of data about our scholarships into a single master spreadsheet, which has made it much easier to look up and find data. My second deliverable was to benchmark data from UM-D with other regional universities, and the data I ended up collecting included percent of students that are first-gen, percent of students that receive institutional aid, total dollars awarded in scholarships and fellowships as well as in institutional aid, net assets, and size of endowment fund. My third and final deliverable was to create a plan to increase engagement on UM-D’s social media sites; I looked at our Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and general website and evaluated what we were doing well, then compared to other universities’ pages and identified high-engagement types of posts that we could implement.

As well as these deliverables, I created a template for a donor impact report on the Engineering Lab Building. The ELB is a new, state-of-the-art space that was completed in 2021 and hosts UM-D’s engineering classes, as well as a wide variety of labs for faculty research and training. I created an outline for a potential impact report that included pictures, a timeline of construction, quotes from faculty and/or students, and a list of donors. 

Project Impact:

 The master spreadsheet I created will make it easier for the entire Dearborn Institutional Advancement team to find data about scholarships. My hope is that their day-to-day tasks, as well as writing impact reports, will become quicker and easier processes because of this. As well, part of this spreadsheet includes graphs that indicate what percentage of our scholarships have an endowment; what percent are for undergrads vs. graduate students; and what percent are need-based vs. merit-based. These graphs automatically update when new data is entered into the spreadsheet, meaning that my team should have at-a-glance access to this information in perpetuity. Additionally, I hope to see increased levels of engagement on all of UM-D’s social media sites, which will ideally lead to increased donor engagement in the long run.

Skills Learned:

• Advanced understanding of Microsoft Excel and Adobe Premiere Pro
• Working knowledge of UM’s DART database
• Ability to work productively in a hybrid setting

“Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.”

Audrey Dozeman, D-SIP 2023

Constituent Data Analytics and Development Events | University and Development Events

Jennifer Kim

Psychology (Class of 2025) Hails From: Flushing, NY

University and Development Events

Project Showcase:

Project Description:

As a D-SIP intern for the University and Development Events team, my project focused on the constituent relations side where I analyzed data on the invitation criterias and yields for the Development events from years 2017 to present. Specifically, I documented historical invitation criterias as well as the size, attendance yields, and locations onto a spreadsheet. Using this data I collected, I identified and analyzed key trends that would prove essential when developing future event recommendations. For instance, I analyzed trends in different geographical locations, focused on the size of events, and saw how the time of year would impact events. In addition, I introduced a tool that can be implemented to ease this process with recommendations that can be used for future analytics. An extra portion of my project allowed me to gain exposure on the event planning process for Development events and the work it takes to produce successful events of different calibers. I took part in the planning process for an event known as Summer Up North (SUN) and will have participated in it by the end of D-SIP.

Project Impact:

The University and Development Events team is responsible for the planning and execution of Ceremonial, Presidential, and Development events for the University of Michigan. There is tremendous work that is involved in the event planning process to produce a successful event. In order to ensure success, data is used to make informed decisions when considering the invitation list as well as other recommendations for these events. This project will ultimately aid the University and Development Events team in increasingly incorporating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion into their events. This project focuses on creating better recommendations through data for crafting invitation lists and producing events in new and different locations. By expanding new possibilities, this will allow for future Development Events to possibly attract new, more engaged but under the radar guests. The University has continuously been trying to increase DEI efforts and this project goes hand in hand with this effort. This project will hopefully be able to provide a more diverse audience of attendees at future events, widen the donor pools that attend these events, and focus on underrepresented audiences. 

Skills Learned:

• Data Analysis: Documenting large data sets into spreadsheets and analyzing the data with visualizations and explanations
• Research Skills: Finding new methods of data collection and analysis
• Time Management: Learning to prioritize certain tasks alongside my assignments and personal life
• Communication: Honed my communication skills by speaking with UDE team members about my project and asking questions

“Be Curious and Ask Questions!”

Jennifer Kim, D-SIP 2023

Building a Connected, Automated, and Actionable Infrastructure | OUD DS3

Alan Makoso

Aerospace Engineering (Class of 2025) Hails From: Sugarland, TX

OUD Development Services and Strategic Solutions (DS3), Data Science and Decision Support (DSDS)

Project Showcase:

Project Description:

Business Objects is a Database Management System that queries potential donors based on various criteria. For example, a major gifts officer may use the system to find a list of alumni from Texas, who studied medicine and gave $10k last year. The current instructions describing how to use this complex system are poorly written. I was tasked with improving these instructions and publishing them on an online Knowledge Base.

My second task is a collaborative project with another intern, Grace Yoon. A vendor (Windfall) provided OUD with a list of companies U of M alum worked at. The Data Science Team has a “dictionary” that contains alternative names to the same company. For example, “Apple” may be referred to as “Apple Inc.” or “Apple California.” This project involves using the Python programming language to check whether the name of the company provided by Windfall matches an entry in the “dictionary.”

My final task involves setting up a procedure and criteria for reviewing the list of companies that never got a match in the dictionary. Using my procedure, a future staff member should be able to check whether a company provided by Windfall is an alias of an existing company, a subsidiary of an existing company, or a new company entirely. The procedure consists of visuals, step-by-step instructions on accessing data, and pseudo-code for future programmers.

Project Impact:

Creating Knowledge Base articles allows for all staff in OUD to use Business Objects with ease. This will decrease the workload of the “customer service” division of Integrated Data Services, since most frequently asked questions will be answered in the articles. The templates of my articles also serve as a precedent for documenting other query online query systems.

Separating Windfall provided companies into groups of “matched” and “unmatched” will de-clutter the database by removing duplicate entries of companies. In the future, when an alumni says that they worked at company X, the computer will be able to tell whether that is a new company or an alias/subsidiary of an existing one. This enhances the data quality and reduces the computational resources required to analyze data.

Skills Learned:

• Standardization – Established criteria to verify entries between 2 datasets.
• Flexibility – Redefining projects requirements and milestones when necessary
• Cross-referencing – Apply concepts from one project to another

 “Setting a strong standard today creates a blissful tomorrow”

Alan Makoso, D-SIP 2023

Behavior-Based Donor Stewardship | LSA Advancement

Amber Henson

International Studies and Political Science (Class of 2026) Hails From: Ypsilanti, Michigan

UM School of Literature, Science, and Arts (LSA) Advancement

Project Showcase:

Project Description:

As part of a project given by the advancement office at the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) at the University of Michigan, I conducted extensive research and benchmarking activities. The main objective of this project was to explore employee giving initiatives implemented by various universities. Specifically, I focused on examining the stewardship practices employed by the 33 institutions I researched with the intention of identifying strategies that LSA could integrate into its own giving days.

To accomplish this, a careful selection process was undertaken to identify universities known for their successful employee giving programs. Additionally, universities with programs that aligned in terms of size and mission with LSA were chosen for benchmarking. This ensured that the research findings would be relevant and applicable to LSA’s unique context.  The research phase of the project involved a comprehensive examination of the selected universities’ stewardship practices. I delved into the strategies employed by these institutions to celebrate and recognize the contributions and gifts made by their donors. By studying their methods, I aimed to identify best practices that LSA could adopt to enhance its own giving days and foster a stronger culture of philanthropy within the college.

Project Impact:

• Providing data and statistics for LSA 
• Gained more connections between LSA and other colleges
• A lot of this work will be implemented into Giving Blue Day not only at LSA but maybe college wide, too, which is very exciting! 
• This project isn’t completely over, as I will be working with LSA in the fall!

Skills Learned:

Lesson 1: Thorough Research is Key

• In the world of benchmarking, thorough and extensive research is the backbone of success. This process involves closely observing and analyzing institutions or individuals to fully understand their strategies and weaknesses. Putting in the hours to gather accurate and relevant data is essential for making well-informed decisions and drawing valuable insights. The more effort and dedication you invest in the process, the more comprehensive and insightful your findings will be.

Lesson 2: Embrace Professionalism and Work Ethics

• A fundamental aspect of benchmarking is maintaining professionalism throughout the process. It’s crucial to conduct yourself ethically and respectfully, without crossing any boundaries or engaging in unprofessional behavior. By treating benchmarking with respect and integrity, you can build trust and rapport with the entities being studied, making them more willing to share valuable insights.
• Diligence, attention to detail, and a commitment to accuracy are critical for obtaining reliable data and actionable insights. Avoid taking shortcuts and ensure that every step of the benchmarking process is conducted with care and diligence.

Lesson 3: Network for Fundraising and Growth

• Networking is a powerful tool that should not be underestimated in the world of benchmarking. As you engage in the process, you may come across individuals or organizations that can provide valuable insights, support, or potential partnerships. Building a strong network within your industry or field opens up opportunities for collaboration and mutual growth.

Lesson 4: Embrace New Avenues

• Benchmarking can be an eye-opener, introducing you to new avenues of professionalism that you may not have considered before. As you delve into the practices and strategies of successful entities, you may discover innovative approaches, technologies, or partnerships that can elevate your own work to the next level.

“Let us never forget that our efforts today shape the brighter tomorrow we aspire to create.”

Amber Henson, D-SIP 2023

Assessing the Needs of Younger Donors and Alumni | School of Information

Adviti Mishra

Computer Science (Class of 2025) Hails From: Mumbai, India

School of Information

Project Showcase:

Project Description:

The project I worked on aimed to analyze what makes donors of different generations willing or not willing to give with a focus on Millennials and Generation Z through a data-driven approach. Given the degree that UMSI offers has changed over the years, UMSI’s more recent alums have had different experiences with their alma mater because of which their proclivity to give is also different. The medium of my project was that of a survey I designed for the past 10 years of UMSI alumni. I conducted a lot of exploratory data analysis with the quantitative data, wrote scripts to generate a variety of graphs to make the analysis intersectional, and supplemented the quantitative insights with informational interviews with select alumni and select employees in development at the University of Michigan.

Project Impact:

The main objective of UMSI’s development team in relation to my project is to use the insights to inform engagement and communication strategy in preparation for the upcoming fundraising campaign. My final deliverable conveys an understanding of motivators of giving within different identity groups, different degrees obtained within UMSI, and different levels of prior involvement with giving. A metric that can be measured is the year on year increase in success rate to get UMSI alumni from the past 10 years to give back as one of the causal factors could be the insights gained about these alumni from my project! 

Skills Learned:

• Exploratory Data Analysis skills : I developed skills in exploratory data analysis. I learned how to better use python libraries like pandas and numpy in Jupyter notebook to perform data cleaning, data preprocessing, and statistical analysis 
• Stakeholder  Engagement (interviews) : I developed skills in identifying key stakeholders of projects. I learned how to effectively gather information,  identify pain points, and communicate effectively