Finding Money and Raising Funds 79 Faculty and staff who have spent the bulk of their careers at your institution. Consider hosting an annual event for retired faculty and staff. Invite them to a local garden or museum for a private tour as a way of thanking them for their service to the institution. Use the opportu- nity to update them on the activities of the college. They may see them- selves as individuals whose lives have been enriched by their association with your institution but have no immediate family or dependents with a claim on their resources or estate. At one of our institutions a long-time secretary, who had never married, made an estate plan that resulted in more than a $600,000 endowment that provided support to fund undergraduate students presenting their research at academic conferences or engaged in some form of undergraduate research. In other instances, three faculty members made estate gifts that supported the Physics program, the History program, and, more generally, research in the humanities. Combined, these gifts totaled over $8 million. Loyal faculty and staff are among the most under-cultivated major donors to a college or University. Along with school teachers, they often don’t see themselves as wealthy and may be especially responsive to careful cultivation and stewardship. Local foundations, businesses or civic-minded individuals may not be alumni, but recognize the value a College or University brings to a community. There may be community-based foundations or corporations that see the importance of supporting local institutions of higher education. It is quite common for prominent local businesses to sponsor cultural or educational activities that help showcase their products and civic-mindedness. Although gifts of this sort are not completely altruistic, they can be a way of gaining modest and needed annual support for a vital college activity. This is all the more likely if 1) the business has a history of philanthropy, and 2) the business employs some of your graduates who might be in a position to influ- ence the charitable giving of the organization.