"We must encourage our Governments in Europe to match our private funds . ."
"Whilst we are all putting our energies into accessing philanthropy, what an incentive and reward it would be if our Governments throughout Europe would consider introducing matching funds."
(C Duncan Rice, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Aberdeen)
These challenging thoughts will be aired by Professor C Duncan Rice, Principal of the University of Aberdeen during his speech today (13 September) at the CASE Conference 1999, the annual meeting of top university fundraisers throughout Europe.
During his speech, Principal Rice will outline his specific vision for UK Higher Education sector fundraising by the year 2010.
"By 2010, we could be operating in a system where the vast majority of Vice Chancellors spend 30-40% of their time on fundraising work. Annual giving from graduates will be very much more advanced and many institutions will be recording 70-80% participation rates from alumni giving.”
"Corporations will be involved in many more joint ventures, undertaking research collaborations, like the recently announced BP Institute at the University of Cambridge, to which BP have committed nearly £20 million.
Principal Rice will then outline what university leaders could do in contributing to public policy debate.
"I believe there are two areas that should be urgently addressed - the structure of tax relief for charitable donations and how to incentivise giving.
"Having experienced both systems of giving, in the UK and in the United States, I can make an observation from a personal perspective. There is no doubt in my mind that the system in the United States encourages giving, whereas in the UK there is little encouragement.”
He will also address the prospect of matching funding: “In order to create incentives for charitable giving, Governments throughout Europe need to consider matching the funds for money donated to a university fundraising campaign. I am not calling for new money. But I would like to see the resources available used to lever money from as yet untapped or under-exploited sources. Charitable giving, I believe, falls into this category.
“Treasury’s bottom lines need not be affected by the introduction of matching funding.”
Matching funding was introduced by the Government of Ontario. Professor Rice cites this as an example of the shift in the giving culture in Canada over recent years.
In an effort to increase the endowment for students throughout scholarships, the Government of Ontario offered to match dollar for dollar certain funds raised by universities. Perhaps the most successful campaign using these matching funds was Toronto University which led to the creation of an endowment of almost $270Million in student aid.
For requests for interview with Principal Rice, please call Ben Morton Wright, Director of the University of Aberdeen Development Trust on 07803 239917.
For copies of the speech, please contact Angela Mowat, Public Relations Office, University of Aberdeen on 01224 272014.