Beverly Brooks Thompson and Michael F. Burnett’s article, “Impact of the S.T.R.I.P.E.S. Leadership and Extended Orientation Program on Philanthropic Giving,” from Philanthropy & Education's newest issue, is now available on JSTOR. Below, co-author Beverly Brooks Thompson elaborates on the effects of student engagement with campus traditions and leadership on giving back.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, I was a young staff member at LSU working in Student Life when S.T.R.I.P.E.S. was first envisioned. Student leaders and staff mentors were chosen, and the campus was abuzz with excitement around this new program. Staff members were encouraged to assist in imagining a program that would be fun, exciting, and teach our new freshmen campus history and traditions to instill in them a love and passion for the university. At the time, frankly, it just seemed like a fun experience to be a part of. I felt honored and lucky to be one of the staff mentors.
Over time, those student leaders began to make their mark on the University. S.T.R.I.P.E.S. became a well-known breeding ground for student leaders, and administrators around campus began to take notice. Several years into the journey, I became one of the first Student Life development officers in the country. During my tenure, I was honored to receive a $1.2 MM philanthropic gift from Mr. Charles Barney to endow the S.T.R.I.P.E.S. program. He made this investment simply because he loved his alma mater. He wanted students to have the same passion and fire for the university that he still had as a businessman in his 80’s. It was a perfect match. Overnight, the program doubled, and more students began to participate. Philanthropy had made its mark on the program, and students participated in the stewardship of that gift through thank you notes and awards in Mr. Barney’s name.
Over the years, I rose through the development ranks and became the Director of the Forever LSU Campaign, a $750MM comprehensive campaign at the university that concluded in 2010. In that role, I began to see over time the impact the students and alumni that had participated in S.T.R.I.P.E.S. had on the university. I routinely witnessed them in leadership roles as students and as emerging alumni leaders around the country.
I had a hunch! Without any empirical data, I simply had a hunch that students who had participated in this extended leadership and orientation program would be more significant donors than their peers. My colleague and friend, Dr. Missy Korduner, had conducted a study surrounding retention rates of student participants. Her significant findings led Dr. Burnett and I to do similar research on this population by studying their philanthropic giving. I could not be more pleased that my hunch turned into facts.
It is extremely gratifying to share these findings with the education and philanthropic community. As we strive to find new and significant ways to create cultures of philanthropy on campuses and to engage young donors, it is our hope that the recommendations within can be practical guides for implementation. We are honored to have the opportunity to present this research. We also want to thank Dr. Drezner and his team for mentoring us through the process.
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Beverly Brooks Thompson is running for Louisiana State Senate as a Baton Rouge entrepreneur focused on using teamwork to unite communities.
Read “Impact of the S.T.R.I.P.E.S. Leadership and Extended Orientation Program on Philanthropic Giving,” for free now on JSTOR!
This post is part of a series that takes a closer look at the scholarship behind IU Press Journals. Primarily written by journal editors and contributors, posts may respond to articles, provide background, document the development process, or explain why scholars are excited about the journal, theme, or article.
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