News Detail

PSU Phonathon goes high tech with new equipment

01/22/2009

Fundraising at Pittsburg State University has gone high tech.

A new computerized autodialing system helped workers at the annual Fall Phonathon triple their total from last year, and officials expect even better results for the Spring Phonathon, set to start Sunday, Feb. 8.

The Fall and Spring Phonathons are annual fundraising events in which paid student workers and volunteer faculty and staff members solicit gifts from PSU alumni and friends of the university over the phone. Each fall, workers call people who have never donated before, while in the spring, they call past donors.

Melanie Cumoletti, assistant director of annual giving and Phonathon coordinator, said the new Campus Call computerized calling system made a big difference when it was first implemented last fall.

"When the alumni answer the phone, it shouldn't be any different, but it's a lot more efficient from our end," Cumoletti said. "We used half as many students to call the same number of people as last year and tripled the amount of pledges."

The computer automatically creates a customized script based on information about the alum and dials the number. It can also keep track of how much money a donor has pledged.

The old system involved handwritten cards that were shuffled and distributed among the student workers.

Cumoletti said private donations such as those gained through the Phonathons are increasingly important as state budgets become tighter. Given the state of the economy, Cumoletti thought it might be hard to collect gifts this year.

Hundreds of generous donors proved her wrong.

"We talked to so many people who said, 'We understand how badly this money is needed,' and they stepped out and made their first gift," Cumoletti said.

Money donated can go to any area of the university. Unrestricted dollars will go wherever they are needed most, but donors can also request specific areas for their money to go.

The Spring Phonathon will kick off next month with a week of faculty-only calling in which teachers will be able to call their old students. Then on Monday, Feb. 16, student workers will begin calling the PSU community.

Student workers are still needed. Those interested in applying can do so at the Development Office in 212 Shirk Hall. Wednesday, Jan. 28, is the last day to apply.

For more information, call University Development at (620) 235-4768.

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