An unprecedented gift from the Thompson Foundation to the university exemplifies the true partnership at the heart of successful college giving.
In early May, Bowling Green State University (BGSU) announced that the Thompson Foundation will contribute an additional $121 million to the Thompson Working Families Scholarship program. So far, nearly 2,000 BGSU students have received the scholarships, which require students to earn good grades, volunteer in the community, and graduate within four years. The Thompsons’ gift is the largest in BGSU history, and the story of how the gift developed over the last decade reveals three key practices in successful college giving: partnership rooted in a shared vision, accountability, and patience.
Finding a balance between the priorities of the donor and the beneficiary in a funding relationship is a perpetual challenge that requires a deft touch. College philanthropy is rife with examples of poor partnerships. Often, the school and the donor have different goals for a gift, resulting in bad blood and, sometimes, legal battles. A true partnership develops when both parties share the same vision and work together to bring that vision to life by combining the financial resources of the donor with the practical resources of the college.
In the case of the Thompson Working Families Scholarship program, both the university and the donors are dedicated to offering an affordable and high-quality education to students who value that education enough to work for it. In a press release, BGSU President Rodney Rogers remarked that the university, the Thompson Foundation, and the individual students all share a common goal to help students “graduate ready for career and life, with minimal student debt.” Bob Thompson added that he and his wife Ellen “are pleased to support BGSU students who have financial need and are willing to work hard.”
The university and the foundation not only share a vision, they are also both investing resources into the project. The university is responsible for matching funds from the Thompson Foundation as well as for ensuring that students graduate in four years by offering counseling support and guidance to the scholarship recipients as they go through college.
The Thompsons and the university both have skin in the game, establishing a strong basis for accountability. Regular reporting helps both parties know how progress is being made. Mr. Thompson noted, “When we first created this scholarship program, we wanted to make sure the dollars were put to good use with accountability throughout the entire process.” The mutual trust and shared goal between donor and university makes it easier to hold each party to a high standard without being unduly strenuous on the beneficiary. It also builds a pathway for further gifts. Mr. Thompson said, “Ellen and I are pleased to support BGSU students . . . at a university that has proven its ability to support them and match these scholarship dollars.”
Accountability can sound like a dirty word given philanthropy culture’s current enchantment with unrestricted gifts. President Rogers acknowledged, “We recognize not all universities would be willing to accept the accountability metrics our agreement with the Thompsons requires, but we absolutely believe it is our responsibility to ensure our students are successful and each and every dollar is put to good use.”
Crafting a successful major gift can take years and requires patience on all sides. The Thompson Working Families Scholarship program developed over the course of a decade. President Rogers commented, “Throughout the past 10 years, we have worked diligently with the Thompson Foundation to pressure-test and grow this first-of-its-kind public-private partnership aimed at accountability in achieving student success.” Mr. Thompson echoed this sentiment, saying, “BGSU has proven this accountability approach works, and we are excited to publicly express our intentions to expand and extend this program into the next decade.” If the scholarship program continues to flourish, the Thompsons may give an additional $30 million to extend the program past 2035.
The Thompsons’ $150-million gift, should the extra $30 million be given, is a tremendous sign of trust in BGSU and its mission. Such a strong relationship is only possible when both donor and university are willing to put in the significant time and resources it takes to define goals, establish accountability measures, and track progress. When done right, the result is certainly worth the investment: over 6,200 hard-working BGSU students are expected to receive scholarships by 2035.
