New Director to lead fundraising campaign for the University

Tuesday, 05 February 2013

Shaun Horan, Director of Campaigns and Supporter Engagement

Shaun Horan has recently been appointed Director of Campaigns and Supporter Engagement - the new name for the Development and Alumni Relations Office. This new team has been tasked with leading a major new University-wide campaign that builds on the Development and Alumni Office's previous success in fundraising.

This campaign will be one of the most ambitious fundraising campaigns undertaken by a university of our type. There will be a significant financial target, but also greatly increased efforts to engage with our alumni, friends and other stakeholders in key activities that will advance our University.  

Shaun Horan commented; "This will be a comprehensive drive to raise funds that comes at just the right stage in the University's development. Our donors feel confident in investing in an ambitious university such as Reading and we are able to build on our previous fundraising success and reputation in areas of strength such as climate change, heart disease, the Silchester archaeological site and Henley Business School."

The new Campaigns and Supporter Engagement team are set to move the University into a different phase in our fundraising and engagement activities. They will offer support to those involved in fundraising efforts, ensuring that all areas of the University with responsibility for fundraising and stakeholder engagement work together to maximise success.

"The University is in a unique position to build on its fundraising success already achieved. To date over £30 million has been raised for the University from philanthropic and corporate sources since it began its fundraising function around eight years ago. This significant amount of funding plays a large role in underpinning our excellent teaching and research" said Shaun.

"This comprehensive campaign will be a University-wide effort, not just driven through the Campaigns Office. Most of our philanthropic activity comes through our research excellence and we want to increase the amount of pure research money that comes in from trusts, foundations and corporate partners

"The University also needs to increase the involvement of volunteers who can help us with diverse activities such as mentoring, placements, student recruitment and governance" he added.

The Campaign will have a number of targets and projects - many of which are under development. The team is already in conversation with colleagues around the University, and in the near future will be contacting all Schools and Departments to find out what their priorities are so that the Campaigns and Supporter Engagement team can concentrate on key priorities for the University and engage with as many prospective donors as possible.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Shaun Horan, Director of Campaigns and Supporter Engagement, 0118 378 5241 / s.p.horan@reading.ac.uk

or

Emma Lambden, Campaign Manager, 0118 378 6173 / e.l.lambden@reading.ac.uk