Winter 2008-2009 - Mayo Clinic

Alumni answer the call
Alumni answer call for help, spearheaded by The Leadership Council for Alumni Philanthropy
T
he Leadership Council for Alumni Philanthropy is
one of seven leadership councils supporting The
Campaign for Mayo Clinic. To date, this group’s efforts
have resulted in alumni contributions of $22.5 million to the
campaign. The goal is to secure $28 million in alumni gifts
by The Campaign’s conclusion at the end of 2009. Overall,
The Campaign for Mayo Clinic is on track to meet the goal
of raising $1.25 billion.
The Leadership Council for Alumni Philanthropy led by
example: It was the first of the seven leadership councils to
reach 100 percent member participation in The Campaign.
“It’s significant to have all members of leadership
councils financially support the philanthropic cause. When
we approach others for support, they often ask about the
support of staff and alumni,” says Joseph Fiore, M.D., a
consultant at Mayo Clinic in Arizona who chaired the
Leadership Council (formerly the Alumni Committee on
Development) from 1982 to 2006.
“Our Leadership Council knows Mayo is the best in
the world and wants to be part of the preservation of this
wonderful medical institution and its philosophy — the needs
of the patient come first,” says Carl Soderstrom, M.D., current
chair of The Leadership Council for Alumni Philanthropy.
According to Dr. Fiore, the Alumni Association’s
Executive Committee embraced development as one of its
integral functions. “There’s an unavoidable reality —
philanthropy and development are integral to Mayo’s
survival,” he says. “We can no longer afford to support all
three shields on the practice alone. Many alumni had never
been asked to participate in supporting Mayo in this way.
But when the prospect is proposed to them, they’re often
eager to preserve the uniqueness of Mayo.”
The Leadership Council for Alumni Philanthropy
has focused on educating alumni about Mayo’s funding
needs in order to maintain its leadership position in
health care.
Giving by Mayo alumni has more than tripled in the last three years, increasing
from an average of $2 million per year prior to 2005 to more than $6.3 million
per year from 2005 to 2008.
16 | Mayo AlumniI Winter 2009