Today, University employees can begin donating through the annual Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, a state-wide fundraising program. The campaign, which officially kicked off Oct. 1 but will only now accept funds, provides commonwealth employees the opportunity to support the charity of their choice from a list of about 1,300 participating state organizations.
All sorts of charities are represented in the program, including health, social services, conservation and animal welfare. Jim Fitzgerald, associate director of community relations, explained that eligible charities maintain boards of directors for their organizations and must use less than 25 percent of their expenditures toward overhead.
Although all state institutions are eligible to participate in the campaign, University employees have consistently shown record participation in the past, Fitzgerald said. University employees donated $930,000 during last year's campaign, the largest amount contributed ever by any state agency.
Though the University set a new campaign record last year, projection for this year's campaign contributions are uncertain because of the economic climate.
"While we remain optimistic that charities will continue to receive the support they need, we are aware of the world and local economy and its potential impact," Fitzgerald said. "However, we know that U.Va employees are going to try to be as generous as they have been."
Student Affairs Orientation Coordinator Tim Eckert has headed the program within his division since 2008, encouraging University employees at Student Affairs to donate through the CVC. In an attempt to encourage contributions, Eckert said Student Affairs both auctions off donated goods and contacts local communities to display exactly what each contribution goes toward, so as to pique potential donors' interests in the program.
The program also is working to improve sustainability and cut costs, encouraging participants to complete the donation process online.
"Now employees don't need to thumb through a booklet or fill out a pledge card," he said. "They can complete the entire process online"
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