This text is part of the special Philanthropy section
With a new president on its board of directors and a new executive director, a wind of change is blowing through the UQAM Foundation. And the results are there.
No less than $ 15 million in donations have been confirmed since April, which, added to funds already raised, makes it possible to reach 85% of the goal of $ 100 million set for the largest fundraising campaign of the history of the UQAM Foundation in progress since 2018.
The President and CEO of Aéroports de Montréal, Philippe Rainville, has agreed to take over the chairmanship of the board of directors of the UQAM Foundation with a view to achieving results.
“The hiring of Michelle Niceforo as general manager in January gave great impetus to the project to raise 100 million, then we were pleasantly surprised to see these 15 million collected in six months and we are optimistic that we will be able to complete the loop ”, affirms Philippe Rainville who joined the board of directors in April 2019 to become chairman on September 30th.
This UQAM graduate in accounting sciences is committed to influencing the ability of a French-speaking university to seek donations, given that the philanthropic tradition is less developed there than on the English-speaking side.
“It’s important to develop philanthropy, because with more money, we become more competitive,” he says. We can raise the level of facilities and give access to more students at the university, in particular. “
No less than a third of the $ 100 million goal will go in scholarships for students. Moreover, more than half of UQAM students are part of the first generation of their families to enter university.
“Not everyone has to go to university, but those who want to do it must be able to move forward, and that’s what accessibility scholarships are for,” says Mr. Rainville.
Team work
Even if the mission of the UQAM Foundation resonates with donors who are interested in equity issues, the fact remains that when she took up her post, Michelle Niceforo had the challenge of seeking out the $ 30 million missing to meet fundraising goal. And that is not to be found by shouting chisel!
“I have been in the field of philanthropy for twenty years, so it is certain that over the years I have established relationships with donors who, in Quebec, form a fairly small pool,” she says. There is no secret recipe. You have to be well prepared to meet them and present them with a project that fits with their values, their vision, their mission. “
It is with her entire team of 26 employees that she carries out this work. “Everyone puts all their heart and all their energy to succeed in achieving this goal, and we can also count on the volunteers and the members of the board of directors. The new president has arrived with his entire network, his managerial talent and his ambition which make it possible to believe that by working together, we will be even stronger and we can even exceed our objective. “
“It is certain that my position at Aéroports de Montréal can allow me to open doors to meet certain donors in order to convince them to give, so my role is to support the UQAM Foundation in these efforts”, affirms Mr. Rainville.
Focus on several types of donations
To raise such a large sum, of course, you have to seek out different types of donations, from companies as well as individuals. The UQAM community is also present.
“Deans, professors, lecturers, executives, support staff, retirees: we feel that everyone is committed to the success of the campaign,” remarks Mr.me Niceforo. They make a great contribution. “
She also believes in the importance of planned giving, namely testamentary and life insurance donations. “This is the future of foundations,” she says. The population is aging, not everyone has children and there are many possibilities to provide for a donation on death to ensure the sustainability of the support we give to the causes and projects that we consider important. “
The UQAM Foundation has also had Isabelle Sauvageau as an advisor for planned giving for over a year. “She is reviewing all the ways to improve it,” says Mme Niceforo. But we are also well aware that, in order to arrive at planned giving, we must start by forging strong links from our first contacts with donors. “
Benefit events
This year, the UQAM Foundation is also organizing a benefit event at the end of November to mark the retirement of the former president of its board of directors, Jean-Marc Eustache, former president and head of the management of Transat.
“As Transat is a major client of Aéroports de Montréal, we decided to organize a dinner, and Jean-Marc asked that it be for the benefit of the UQAM Foundation,” explains Mr. Rainville. We will therefore close a section of the airport to hold this event on the Transat pier. “
This idea will make children. The UQAM Foundation now wishes to organize an annual benefit event, and Mr. Rainville will be its president. “Our goal is to promote a UQAM graduate who has had an extraordinary career and to organize an evening in his honor to raise funds,” he explains.
Since its creation in 1976, the UQAM Foundation has awarded 16,734 scholarships. In 2021, as the pandemic hit students hard, she donated no less than $ 2 million.