On Thursday evening, Gayle Rose visited UTM's campus to make a presentation on "The Art of Philanthropy" to the students involved in L.E.A.D. Academy.

This special workshop was centered on understanding the history and importance of philanthropy in society and understanding the fundraising process and provide tools and techniques for effective fundraising.

There are three ways an organization can contribute to philanthropy, as Rose pointed out. The first one is a gift of time, which is volunteering for any cause. The second, a gift of talent, is when someone who has a special talent donates their abilities to help out others.

An example of this would be someone fluent in a foreign language donating their skills to local hospitals to translate for patients who do not know English. The last gift is the gift of treasure, which can be monetary or material.

After establishing the three gifts, Rose shared the nine purposes. These some of these purposes were to enable people to exercise their potential, to relieve human misery, to remember those that have past and to make communities a better place to live.

Next topic was the top reasons people give to various philanthropies. The top reasons were public recognition and belief in the organization or program with the number one reason being because they were asked.

Seeing how it is easier to ask four people for a quarter than to ask one person for a dollar, her next topic, sources of philanthropy shined because individuals make up 75.8 percent of contributions.

Foundations are next with 12.2 percent, then bequests with 7.7 percent and corporations filling in the last 4.3 percent. Following her information on general information about philanthropies and their purpose, she began discussing fundraising.

Some of the main components of fundraising, according to Rose, are needs, leadership/volunteers, public relations and budget.

She then moved onto a campaign, road map and an outline for a case statement for the L.E.A.D. Academy. All of this turned into a first-draft case statement with a chart depicting the structure of the campaign organization that was specifically designed for the L.E.A.D. Academy.

Rose described ways of asking for contributions, dealing with objections and refusals and how to make an appointment with someone about making a contribution to the cause. The presentation concluded with what to do after the initial phone call is made and then gave a workshop overview.

Rose has worked to improve the quality of life in Memphis for over 20 years through numerous non-profit organizations and other political, civic and advocacy projects. She recently led the NBA “Pursuit Team” in successfully attracting the Vancouver Grizzlies to Memphis. She was selected as one of the Year 2000 “50 Women Who make a Difference!”

Rose is also the recipient of the National Association of Women Business Owners “Iris Award” which recognizes women who have made a significant contribution to improve their community and city.

Rose is a 1985 graduate of Harvard University with a Master of Arts in Public Administration and was named a Littauer Fellow, acknowledging academic achievement and leadership potential.