Message from Bill - July 2020

Greetings Trustees!
 
I hope that this issue of Trustee Insider finds you and your family well.
 
Many thanks to those of you who made time to speak with me about the upcoming strategic planning process for the EMU Foundation. After nearly 30 telephone and Zoom calls, several themes are emerging that represent your collective best thoughts for future EMUF priorities. Consistent with recent discussions about the comprehensive campaign and with our current strategic plan, you identified the following areas of focus: supporting students and faculty; highlighting EMU’s programs of distinction; and, enhancing engagement efforts  with alumni, donors, campus constituents, and the corporate sector.
 
Underpinning these major areas of focus, we uncovered many great ideas for building a solid platform on which the foundation can grow. In continuing our work from the last strategic plan, many of you suggested that we create specific objectives intended to elevate the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, embedding social justice into our culture. In addition, many of you called for strategies that will strengthen EMUF finances, fundraising infrastructure, and our use of technology. 
 
Our strategic planning work groups will use your thoughts from these interviews to begin developing goals and objectives for our new plan. We will look to each of you to further refine these ideas as the process unfolds.
 
You will find our unaudited year-end fundraising totals within this issue. I am very pleased to report that we have set a new fundraising record for EMU, with our donors committing $21.5 million in FY 2020. Each of you helped us attain this milestone—thank you!
 
As we move toward fall semester, I will keep you updated on the university’s plans for returning to campus. We will also soon announce modified plans for our 100th homecoming celebration in October.
 
My best wishes for your continued good health,
 
Bill