Accomplishments and Plans

Selected Accomplishments since 2000:

1. Regional Focus Groups - Organized focus groups with women in different regions of the country (11 focus groups); sponsored 9 additional informational or networking events in these regions and others.
2. Reunions Activities - Coordinated and organized panel discussions (financial management, work/life balance), and networking/social receptions during Reunions.
3. Education - Promoted awareness of U.Va. women's accomplishments through articles in U.Va. publications and on the Web; worked with development officers regarding the importance of women as volunteers and donors; assisted a Curry School doctoral candidate with a survey of U.Va. alumnae regarding motivations for giving; researched and benchmarked with peer programs at public and private universities; analyzed data on U.Va.’s women stakeholders.
4. Promotion of Women to Leadership Positions - Kept lists of U.Va. women ready and willing to serve as volunteer leaders and actively promoted these women for vacant slots on school boards and committees. Women’s presence on advisory board leadership changed from 10% in 2000 to an average of 30% in 2005.
5. Major Giving from Women - Created a subcommittee of the Campaign Executive Committee focused on approaches to encourage better engagement of U.Va. women with U.Va. as leaders and major donors.

Abbreviated Plans for 2007-2008:

1. Regional Events – in partnership with the Engagement Office, hold events through U.Va. Clubs, and with donor/prospect groups to highlight women’s leadership and philanthropy.
2. Communications – working with Strategic Communications, create and market a brand identity for WLP; create informational brochure on WLP; produce and send several oversized postcards promoting U.Va. women leaders (e.g., Distinguished Alumna of the Year); work with school/unit magazines to highlight women leaders and donors in publications; send quarterly e-mail newsletters to WLP constituents; improve website.
3. Reunions – create a giving appeal related to Reunions; hold one or more events at Reunions (as in past).
4. Giving – create an on-line "giving catalog" to highlight giving opportunities at various dollar levels and articulate the benefits to U.Va.; working through existing giving societies, highlight women donors through giving society publications and other communications.
5. Women's Conference – explore partnering with various University entities to produce a conference marketed to women professionals, volunteer leaders and donors.
6. Leadership – working with Regional Engagement and school/unit foundations, continue to promote leadership opportunities for women and advocate for women candidates.
7. Measurable goals – develop clear, measurable goals for progress with women’s leadership and giving by the end of the Campaign.