Cal State San Bernardino President Tomas Morales on being the university fundraiser-in chief: "There is no question that fundraising is considered a top responsibility of presidents throughout the CSU, and that is especially clear here in the Inland Empire, considering the demographics of our students and the economic and educational needs of the region." (Rachel Luna/Staff Photographer)
Related story: If you missed it, read about Tomas D. Morales' first day on campusSAN BERNARDINO - Among the many hats new Cal State San Bernardino President Tomas D. Morales wears is fundraiser-in-chief.
The university has a fundraising goal of 10 percent of its state general fund allocation. Over the past three years, the school has exactly hit that mark, bringing in an average of $5.5 million a year.
Morales has a strong track record as a fundraiser, increasing alumni participation in the annual fund at the College of Staten Island, where he was president for five years, by 50 percent. In all, he raised more than $8 million for the school.
Earlier in his career, he helped bring in $10 million for the City University of New York system and $23 million for Cal Poly Pomona.
"Given the declining level of state support to the CSU, fundraising has never been more important at Cal State San Bernardino," Morales said. "There is no question that fundraising is considered a top responsibility of presidents throughout the CSU, and that is especially clear here in the Inland Empire, considering the demographics of our students and the economic and educational needs of the region."
Cuts in state funding have led to the CSU campuses cutting enrollment by 30,000 students and eliminating 3,000 jobs since the 2007-2008 school year. But donors are unlikely to plug the gaps that Sacramento has left in university coffers.
"From my experience, philanthropy has never been designed to offset state funding," Morales said. "I have yet to meet a donor who is interested in writing a check for basic operations just because the state has reduced support."
Instead, donors bring their checkbooks with specific goals in mind.
"Donors want to advance excellence, giving our faculty and students the types of resources that allow them to make an
Cal State San Bernardino President Tomas Morales. (Rachel Luna/Staff Photographer)
immediate impact upon graduation," Morales said. "From scholarships to state-of-the-art learning laboratories to endowments, external support is what separates a good university from a great one."According to Morales, the biggest pressure to do better with fundraising doesn't come from the system's board of trustees and chancellor.
"In my mind, the pressure comes from within," he said. "I will always want CSUSB students to have a premier educational experience, comparable to any university in the country. It's my responsibility to do everything in my power to make that happen. We can and will elevate opportunities for our students and faculty with external support."
Although the university has a full-time fundraising staff - and a new vice president for university advancement, Ron Fremont, newly acquired from Cal Poly Pomona - Morales acknowledges he has an important role to play in the effort.
"A president must always be the face of the university," he said. "I know what it takes for CSUSB to enjoy consistent external support, including expanding and empowering our advancement staff."
Fremont, he said, "and I have spent many years in the CSU and recognize the challenges and opportunities. I foresee great things for Cal State San Bernardino."
Reach Beau via email, call him at 909-386-3826, or find him on Twitter @InlandEd.
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