Soaring to Victory S T R A T E G I C
V I S I O N
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
“You cannot fly like an eagle with the wings of a wren.” - William Henry Hudson
Soaring to Victory Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation
Total Campaign Goal: $36,625,000
W
e are faced with a tremendous generational opportunity. Not since Erk Russell’s “dirty dozen,” the group who led the effort to put Georgia Southern Football on the map in 1982, have we had an opportunity to impact the entire athletics program, the university, the community and the region in such a meaningful way.
We are embarking on this exciting $36 million campaign with the goal of achieving our mission in five phases over eight years. The successful completion of the campaign will ensure the attainment of “Rings and Diplomas” for all student-athletes and will guide the program for the next 25 years.
GSU Athletics Vision: Rings and Diplomas The vision of the Georgia Southern University Athletic Department phrased simply, but aptly, is Rings and Diplomas. We strive to provide the opportunity for a championship ring and a college diploma for each one of our promising and talented studentathletes.
Our Mission: Today’s Investments Realize Tomorrow’s Victories:
The Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation is the official fund-raising arm of GSU Athletics and is thus charged with helping to implement our vision through financial support. The Athletic Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization which raises money for Georgia Southern University student-athlete scholarships and priority needs of the athletics department as approved by its board of directors.
Our Student-Athlete Vision: Rings and Diplomas:
Every student-athlete who walks onto our campus will be provided the best possible opportunity to win a championship ring and his or her degree. The student-athletes, coaches, and administration will be provided the resources necessary for success in both. This vision is the guiding principle for the Georgia Southern Athletic Department’s strategic plan.
RINGS
DIPLOMAS
Goal: To win a conference or national championship
Goal: To graduate 100% of our student-
in all sports at the highest possible level of
athletes with transferrable career and
competition.
life skills.
STRATEGIES:
STRATEGIES:
I. Hire and retain highest-caliber coaches and
I. Fully fund Student-Athlete scholarships
staff possible
through private funding
• Ensure competitive salaries at or above the conference mid-point • Create a “Margin of Excellence Endowment Fund” to provide performance-based incentives and mechanism for salary supplements to ensure coaching continuity
• Double GSUAF Annual Campaign / Donor Base - Increase / maximize auxiliary income - Double GSUAF scholarship endowment
II. Recruit Nationally-Competitive Student-Athletes
• Increase recruiting budgets for all sports by 50% • Provide opportunities for signature competitive and travel experiences for players and coaches • Increase availability of technology for coaches • Hire additional recruiting staff members in many sports III. Provide best-of-class athletic facilities for exceptional competitive and recruiting results
• Complete Athletics Facilities Master Plan • Develop Football Operations Center at Paulson Stadium • Expansion of Paulson Stadium seating capacity • Create Athletics Department administrative office • Hanner Field House renovation • Soccer / Track Stadium relocation and lighting • Development of new football practice complex • Cowart Building / Ticket Office expansion • Create indoor multi-purpose practice center • Construct Softball batting cage complex IV. Upgrade Technology Infrastructure to enhance the fan experience
• Purchase new scoreboards and PA systems for football, baseball and basketball • Implement E-ticketing and scanning program • Upgrade Athletics web site and provide on-demand programming • Create Athletics film studio and expand broadcast production ability
II. Fully staff and fund the Athletics Academic Support Center III. Implement a Student-Athlete Laptop Program IV. Creation of a Career / Life Skills Program with appropriate staff and budget
Funding Priorities by Ph Phase I: Stabilizing the Program • Fundraising Goal: $15,500,000 Eagle Fund Annual Giving: $500,000 • Increase annual Eagle Fund campaign contributions to ensure competitive salaries at or above the conference mid-point Goal: $ 500,000
Phase II: Enhancing the Student-Athlete Experience • Fundraising Goal: $2,850,00O Eagle Fund Annual Giving: $1,150,000 • Double GSUAF Annual Campaign / Donor Base Goal: $1,000,000 - Fully fund Student-Athlete scholarships through private funding Goal: $350,000 - Fully staff and fund the Athletics Academic Support Center Goal: $250,000 - Creation of a Career / Life Skills Program with appropriate staff and budget Goal: $250,000 - Hire additional recruiting staff members in many sports Goal: $150,000 • Increase / Maximize Auxiliary Income Goal: $ 150,000 - Increase recruiting budgets for all sports by 50% Goal: $100,000 - Provide opportunities for signature competitive and travel experiences Goal: $50,000
Phase III: Upgrading Athletic Facilities • Fundraising Goal: $7,500,000 Eagle Fund Annual Giving -
Give 110% for your Eagles!
Phase IV: Improving the Fan Experience • Fundraising Goal: $10,500,000 Eagle Fund Annual Giving -
Give 110% for your Eagles!
Phase V: Expanding the Technology Infrastructure • Fundraising Goal: $275,000 Eagle Fund Annual Giving -
Give 110% for your Eagles!
hase and Giving Category Capital Campaign: $15,000,000 • Position GSU Football as our marquee program by developing a Football Operations Center at Paulson Stadium and recruit the country’s best student-athletes Goal: $10,000,000 • Create a “Margin of Excellence Endowment Fund” to provide performance-based incentives and mechanism for salary supplements to ensure coaching continuity Goal: $5,000,000
Capital Campaign: $1,700,000 • Double the Athletic Foundation’s scholarship endowment • Implement a Student-Athlete Laptop Program
Goal: $1,500,000 Goal: $ 200,000
Capital Campaign: $7,500,000 • Expansion of Paulson Stadium seating capacity • Soccer / Track Stadium Relocation and Lighting • Development of New Football Practice Complex • Create Athletics Department Administrative Office • Cowart Building / Ticket Office Expansion • Construct Softball Batting Cage Complex • Create Indoor Multi-Purpose Practice Center
Goal: Goal: Goal: Goal: Goal: Goal: Goal:
$2,500,000 $2,500,000 $1,000,000 $ 500,000 $ 500,000 $ 250,000 $ 250,000
Capital Campaign: $10,500,000 • Purchase new scoreboards and PA systems for football, baseball and basketball • Hanner Field House renovation
Goal: $5,500,000 Goal: $5,000,000
Capital Campaign: $275,000
Goal:
$100,000
• Create Athletics film studio and expand broadcast production ability • Upgrade Athletics Web Site and provide on-demand programming • Increase availability of technology for coaches
Goal: Goal: Goal:
$ 75,000 $ 50,000 $ 50,000
• Implement E-ticketing and scanning program
Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation Staff
President:
Operations Director:
John Mulherin
Kathryn Bryant
johnmul@georgiasouthern.edu
kathrynbryant@georgiasouthern.edu
Eagle Fund Executive Director: David Beaubien dbeaubien@georgiasouthern.edu
Donor Records Director: Dee Parker dparker@georgiasouthern.edu
Frank Hook
Eagle Fund Program Coordinator: Caroline Bevillard
fhook@georgiasouthern.edu
cbevillard@georgiasouthern.edu
Donor Relations Director:
Atlanta Regional Office Director: Lindsey Randolph lrandolph@georgiasouthern.edu
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC FOUNDATION, INC. P.O. BOX 8115-01 STATESBORO, GEORGIA 30460-8115 1-912-478-5520 www.ringsanddiplomas.com
Eagle Fund Special Projects Coordinator: Gordon Hunter ghunter@georgiasouthern.edu
Sally Scott Donor Fulfillment Coordinator swscott@georgiasouthern.edu