College of Coastal Georgia Foundation Strategic Plan, 2016-2020

The Path Forward opportunities requiring purposeful navigation during the next five years. Resource limitations at The College of Coastal Georgia Foundation was the state and national levels, further USG organized more than 40 years ago. Since consolidation, and competitor institutions all transitioning to a baccalaureate degree granting pose ongoing threats for the continued growth of institution in 2009, the Foundation has enjoyed the College. Underdeveloped relationships with much fundraising success and created the major donors and potential donors, a small and conditions under which our students can thrive over-extended development staff, and the lack of in pursuit of their educational goals. This success a robust stewardship program are recognized was achieved during the most challenging of weaknesses for the College and the Foundation. economic times and with a fairly small donor Nonetheless, the reputation of the College as an base. Moving forward, the Foundation must integral contributor to the success of the local continue to seize upon existing relationships, area, strong campus and community establish new donor relationships, and reaffirm relationships, and a connected and engaged fundraising as the number one priority of the Foundation Board of Trustees provide clear Foundation. strengths to the organization. Further, the growing four-year alumni base, identification of The Foundation executed two previous strategic new donors in the philanthropic local community, plans, initially from 2010-2012 and then from expansion of the development staff, and 2013-2015. Each strategic plan established key fundraising for the Coastal Community Center for investment targets and strategies for the Arts create a host of opportunities for achievement. Overall, the Foundation met or innovation and growth. Within these contexts, the exceeded investment targets and enjoyed Foundation sets forth another aggressive agenda particular success in providing student for the coming five years. scholarship and support which, in turn positively impacted student enrollment and retention. Moving forward, the Foundation will continue to The Foundation Mission pursue critical investment targets in support of and the College Vision the College’s strategic plan: Coastal Vision 2021. Foundation Mission: The College of Coastal Georgia Foundation develops resources to With this new strategic plan, the Foundation support the College in providing quality reaffirms its role and responsibility to provide education. The Foundation also serves as an the margin of excellence necessary for the College advocate within and beyond the Coastal of Coastal Georgia to become one of the premier Georgia community to further the goals of the access public undergraduate institutions in the College. Southeastern United States. College Vision. The College of Coastal Georgia will Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats, be a college of choice for students within Georgia and Opportunities (SWOT) and beyond, providing an outstanding education for tomorrow’s leaders and citizens through The College Foundation operating environment service learning, global awareness and engaged presents unique challenges and entrepreneurship.

1 Approved by CCGA Foundation February 17, 2016 College of Coastal Georgia Foundation Strategic Plan, 2016-2020 Key Investment Targets

Student Scholarships and Support engage boosters. Athletic scholarships and The cost of higher education continues to rise quality facilities are key needs for the College. and, for many students, financial constraints The Foundation will seek funding to improve thwart access to advanced education and future athletic facilities including a new softball facility; economic and personal success. Merit a field house for softball, tennis, and golf; lighting scholarships and targeted academic incentives for the remaining six tennis courts; and improved are important tools in recruiting and retaining strength and conditioning facilities. Through top notch students who become outstanding signature athletic events and named giving, the alumni and, ultimately, may become future Foundation seeks to raise sufficient funds to leaders in Coastal Georgia. As the College ensure that at least 10% of its annual budget is continues to grow, the Foundation is committed targeted to athletics, through a combination of to continuing to award full or partial scholarships, facilities and program support. scholarships, at meaningful funding levels to 10% Campus Programming and Student Life or more of total enrollment. The Foundation will continue to consider innovative scholarship and The college experience is heightened through a support programs to influence incoming variety of quality extra- and co-curricular freshmen, support the access mission of the activities that serve to expand the horizons of college, support our veteran student population, students, faculty and staff and to provide and to support unique student opportunities such enrichment for the community at large. The as study abroad. Foundation proposes to secure funding to initiate and sustain a wide range of innovative artistic Academic Support and cultural programs, signature student life Quality faculty are the cornerstone of higher events and meaningful career and education. The College’s ability to recruit and entrepreneurship immersion experiences. While retain outstanding academic talent ensures its simultaneously cultivating significant named status in and contributions to higher education. giving, the Foundation proposes to target 10% of With shrinking public funds and increasing the annual budget for campus programming and performance demands, the Foundation embraces student life. With Student housing needs now met its role to secure funding for prestigious faculty through private/public partnerships, the lines and to support faculty learning, research, Foundation must focus on securing capital gifts to scholarship, and innovation. The Foundation enhance the campus experience of our students. seeks to commit support for academic programs A multi-phase remodel of the Student Activity to reach at least 20% of the annual budget. Center including a fitness center, dining facility, activity gym, and an improved lawn and plaza Athletic Programming and Facilities area will greatly enhance the student campus experience and positively impact student Intercollegiate athletics significantly impacts the recruitment and retention. Additionally, building campus culture and resonates both on campus on the work of the Major Gifts Committee, the and in the community as a tremendous source of Foundation should continue to aggressively seek pride as CCGA enjoys recognition as conference naming opportunities, through capital donations, and National champions. Athletics create an for new and existing campus buildings and essential base to attract quality students and

2 infrastructure to support a variety of campus programming and student life.

Coastal Community Center for the Arts Glynn County voters approved the Educational Special Purpose Local Optional Sales Tax 3 (Esplost 3) in November 2015, paving the way for four near-term bonded projects and five future pay-as-you-go projects. The Coastal Community Center for the Arts represents one of the pay-as- you-go projects and will be built on the college’s campus pending the availability of $20 million in construction funds collected through Esplost 3. Planning and design of the facility will follow the availability of funds, but could commence as early as calendar year 2018. The College and the Foundation will identify funding opportunities from all available sources for the operations, maintenance, and programming for the new facility. The Foundation will commit to assist in securing resources to support the funding needs of the center.

Land Acquisition Despite its nearly 200 acres, the College is virtually landlocked with few avenues for potential expansion. New space remains essential to support housing, new facilities, athletic fields and parking. The Exchange Club property offers the perfect addition to the College property. The Foundation remains committed to securing resources, possibly through a partnership focused capital campaign, to purchase this property.

3 Approved by CCGA Foundation February 17, 2016 College of Coastal Georgia Foundation Strategic Plan, 2016-2020 The Strategies gifts and total giving from major donors, Building on past fundraising successes and increasing giving from local businesses, adding community engagement, the Foundation pledges new foundations to the donor roles, and creating to continue strengthening its philanthropic and the conditions for planned giving success among advocacy capacity and promoting broad-based our older donor base. Most importantly, the support across the region and the state. college must fully develop a sense of importance and urgency as well as a compelling vision for the Employing the Full Complement of campaign among our constituent donor base to Giving Strategies support a comprehensive capital campaign.

The Foundation will use a full compliment of Engaging Trustee Ownership and Leadership giving strategies, from the annual fund to major gifts to corporation and foundation giving to Through development activities, special events, planned giving. The Trustees and development committee work, and advocacy programs, staff recognize the need to successfully Trustees should be fully engaged with the implement this full array of tools to attract and mission of the Foundation and the vision of the retain donors. The annual fund campaign will College. Trustees recognize and reaffirm that include fall and spring appeals, a faculty and staff their core mission is fundraising; all other aspects appeal, an appeal to our baccalaureate graduates, of programming and stewardship are ancillary to an appeal to parents and families of current this primary, development mission. The students, and appeals to support new initiatives Foundation and the College pledge to work identified by the Foundation. The Foundation together to ensure that all Trustees are equipped will also explore the creation of an annual giving and involved to fulfill the mission, thus allowing program to specifically support athletics. The each to take pride in their service and creation of the college call center also provides a accomplishments. In its stewardship and phone-a-thon capability to support fundraising governance role, the Foundation seeks to initiatives throughout the year. The Foundation’s exemplify best practices for governance of Major Gifts Committee will aggressively seek to charitable organizations; to institute systems of identify and cultivate donors with significant performance measurement and reporting; and to capacity to support the needs of the college. The establish mechanisms to promote board member Foundation also will renew annual and recruitment, training and leadership transition. cumulative giving societies to recognize donors Trustees will also annually contribute to the and incentivize donor fidelity. Foundation at a level prescribed by the Foundation Bylaws. Positioning to Launch a Capital Campaign Events and Community Engagement The Foundation will seek to position itself and the college to undertake a comprehensive capital The Foundation believes that campus-based campaign. Specific preparatory activities will events, open to the community, are important in include fully staffing and training the the maturation of a “college town.” Events should advancement team, establishing an increased and cross a wide-range of interests and experiences broad-based community of donors to the college, and should seek to achieve both “friend-raising” growing the annual fund to a consistently high and “fund-raising” goals. Through campus-based level of giving, increasing both the number of events and Foundation-sponsored community

4 programs, the Foundation seeks to build an expanded network of College supporters and benefactors. The Foundation will also undertake individual events as necessary throughout the year to enhance the overall goals of the college.

Coastal Community Center for the Arts The Foundation will organize a committee to actively pursue the community engagement and fundraising activities required to make the new arts center a reality. This committee will work closely with the college administration, Foundation leadership, Glynn County Board of Education, local governmental officials, and others necessary to ensure the college is positioned to staff, operate and program the facility once constructed.

Expanding the Donor Base The Foundation recognizes the need to expand the number, the type and the geographic locations of donors. The aggressive goals include increasing the number of donors and/or the total giving by 15% annually; involving increasing numbers of Coastal Georgia businesses in giving at some level; securing additional gifts from philanthropic foundations annually; and adding givers from elsewhere in Georgia and the nation. The College will add the position of Director of Development and Alumni Relations to specifically focus on expanding both the annual fund donor base and the alumni donor base. In addition to their financial commitment to the college, Foundation Trustees will actively pursue new donors.

Cultivation of Alumni Support The College will reach a milestone in 2016 as we graduate our 1,000th baccalaureate graduate. With the hiring of the Director of Development and Alumni Relations, the Foundation will support a renewed emphasis on developing a vibrant Alumni program. The Foundation will seek to raise the number of alumni donors and/or the total alumni giving by 10% annually. In doing so, the Foundation will begin the process of cultivating a strong Alumni donor base for the future.

5 Approved by CCGA Foundation February 17, 2016