EMU Spotlight: Ron Miller

Ron Miller is the Executive Director of the EMU Foundation. Read on to learn about his strategy for the EMU Foundation faced with the current economic turmoil and his outlook on the evolving non-profit sector.

Question: Mr. Miller, you joined the EMU Foundation over a year ago. How is this position different from your time as vice president of development for the Detroit Institute of Art?

Answer: The DIA was more concentrated on Southeastern Michigan. Eastern Michigan University is targeted nationally. We conduct broader outreach across the entire nation on a regular basis at EMU. You need to make time available to interact with alumni and friends across the nation which increases your travel duties. Overall, you have to have a plan that keeps EMU in the interest of an audience 2,000 miles away.

Q: You are an alumnus of EMU and an Ypsilanti native, how did it feel to return to the place where it all began?

A: Well, I had the advantage to know a lot of the staff, faculty, administrators and volunteers at EMU. That helps to move projects along far more quickly and with greater enthusiasm. I'm very closely tied to the Washtenaw County communities, having served on several boards and having run major local tourist events. It sort of feels like coming home professionally even though I have always lived here. It feels great to increase my community involvement, which I had to slow down during my time at the DIA.

Q: You were recently named executive director of the EMU Foundation and are now overseeing the office of Alumni Relations as well. How has this promotion helped in the execution of your vision?

A: The communication with alumni around the nation is essential to keep alumni and friends aware of ongoing events and activities of the University and to secure dollars to support programs and our scholarship opportunities. The ability to combine alumni events with our donor appreciation events gives us a broader platform and a better opportunity to welcome and thank our friends.

Q: What are your advancement goals for the upcoming years?

A: I'd like to end up somewhere near last year's record financial achievement. To achieve that goal, we are solidifying our marketing and cultivation plan. Communication to alumni and friends need to be strengthened and our outreach-umbrella needs to be broadened. We want to reach a new level of electronic communication with alumni and friends. We want our friends to know what happens with Eastern grads in California as well as right here in Ypsi.

Q: What makes people give?

A: A number of things: For some it is a sense of responsibility, akin to the acknowledgement of a debt. For example, alumni, who have once received scholarships, want to give back. For others, establishing a scholarship in the name of a loved one is a great way of remembering a special person. In that sense, giving becomes a personal value, a sense that it is the right thing to do.

Q: How is the development area affected by the economic situation? Are people less inclined to give?

A: These are very unusual times, to say the least. The EMU Foundation is certainly affected by the economic climate; however, we are still receiving gifts. It's normal that people are a little more careful of their assets at the moment. However, people don't want to cut us off. In turn, we are seeking to involve more people to offset the reduction in gifts that we are seeing.

Q: Has you approach to fundraising changed in response to the current situation?

A: Our approach has become more aggressive. We have updated our donor recognition and improved donor appreciation. For example, we have regularly updated donor walls, and more timely communication. There is more prominent acknowledgement in our annual report. More invitations to events, tailored to the interest of our supporters and their affinity groups. We try and pair donors to events within their region. We are continuously making our outreach programs more viable and interesting. For example, EMU Piano Professor Joel Schoenhals recently accompanied us on a very successful outreach program in Arizona that promoted our Steinway initiative.

Q: How confident are you in the current investment of the University's endowment? Has it been affected by the fall of the stock market?

A: We are above-par with most other comparable organizations. To react appropriately to the current downturn of the financial market, we have a very talented and aware committee of volunteer monitors who oversee our portfolio at all times. The committee makes sure we are retaining our position the best way we can.

Q: A student asks you 'what does the EMU Foundation do, where does the money go?' What do you say?

A: We are the institution that channels all incoming donations directly to the University. We work with friends and alumni to make sure their dollars are handled correctly and are spent with the donor's intent in mind. It's a huge operation that includes scholarships, athletic expenditures and much more. A lot of the money goes directly to scholarships and supports programs, ranging from faculty research to studying abroad.

Q: How do you see the non-profit sector evolving and what are some new challenges?

A: It will be interesting to see what Obama's presidency does for our contributions. He might be changing tax laws, meaning you may not be able to get charitable deduction for contributions or donations. If that happens, it could be perceived as negative for us. That's why we need to work on smarter partnerships with corporations to secure funds. We need a solid plan for individual gifts. We need to use our marketing dollars wisely and our events need to be specifically targeted to our donors and friends.

Q: What is it like to work at EMU?

A: It's fun. We have a great team, a respected University, an inclusive community and a focused mission.

Q: Have there been significant changes since the presidency of Susan Martin?

A: We are certainly developing our funding priorities and have significant plans for a concentrated campaign that will channel our fundraising efforts toward a major goal with significant impact.

Q: Since you joined the EMU Foundation, what has been your proudest achievement?

A: I am working with a staff that secured the largest contributions to the University in the institution's history under my leadership.

Q: What is left to accomplish?

A: (Laughs) Everything. We just started. We have to raise money for all kinds of projects to offer better student support. We need to improve our communication with alumni, friends, students and staff.

Q: Why should one give to EMU?

A: A gift to EMU will have a significant impact on a student's live via the funding of a program, a scholarship, or building and maintaining facilities that are modern and have competitive training opportunities. We make every effort to use funds wisely and stretch our donor's dollars as far as they go. Just like someone encouraged you, your gift will encourage someone else. In some instances, it can be a lifeline for someone else.