The Campaign for Florida Alpha hit an important benchmark this quarter—more than 100 brothers have participated in the campaign with a pledge or outright gift. The campaign now stands at $1.35 million in gifts and pledges toward a $4 million goal.
The campaign website yoursinthebond.org contains all the information about the vision for the future of the chapter house, lists of existing donors, naming opportunities, and a link to get involved.
“I’m really excited about the progress we have made so far on the campaign,” said campaign co-chair, Kevin Wilkinson (Spring 1984). “This campaign began because hundreds of brothers came together and signed a petition to preserve the chapter house in its current location.”
A campaign committee has been quietly raising leadership gifts during the last several years, but the focus now has shifted to engage a broad base of donors.
Florida Alpha House Corporation president, Ryan Lipps (Spring 2004), hopes to see a large percentage of the alumni body support the campaign. “We know successful chapter house campaigns generally secure a participation rate of 20% to 25% of their total membership. With the size of our chapter that translates to 500 gifts from living alumni. When we secure that broad based support, with brothers making meaningful gifts to them, spread over five years, we can reach the goal.”
To reach the target, the campaign has engaged the support of era captains to recruit a pledge class agent from each pledge class in an era.
“With pledge class leadership in place, all it takes to be successful is to find the 20% of brothers in that class who had a great Phi Delt experience and invite them to participate in the campaign in the way that they can,” Wilkinson said. “More than 400 brothers signed the original petition to keep the chapter house where it is,” Wilkinson said. “Those brothers In essence voted to keep the chapter house at 121 SW 13th Street. Now we need those brothers to vote again by getting involved in this project.”
If you are interested in learning more about the project, to make a gift, or get involved as a pledge class agent visit yoursinthebond.org.