Staff Editorial: Spreading the wealth

It may be the largest of Penn's 12 schools, but when it comes to fundraising, the School of Arts and Sciences has had more than its share of trouble. In recent years, generous alums have been more than willing to donate to the Wharton and Engineering schools, specifically in the form of naming gifts for new facilities. Meantime, when it comes to giving back to their alma mater, SAS alums have exhibited much tighter purse strings. One of the major roadblocks that Penn has hit in fundraising is that most major donors have specific plans and restrictions for where their money can be spent. Some generous alums donate to the financial aid budget, others to upgrade technology in their school of choice. But when it comes to SAS, it seems that most donors are willing to give enough to endow a department chair or faculty position -- not to remodel Bennett Hall. And with the economy suffering and still no replacement in sight for top fundraising official Virginia Clark, who left last summer for a post at the Smithsonian, the future does not look any more promising. With the implementation of the new strategic plan, the University is embarking on a new strategy that officials hope will help equalize the playing field. By encouraging alums to donate more generally and allow Penn to invest the money as it sees fit, administrators are on the right track. However, if trends in higher education giving continue, Penn will likely be unsuccessful in its efforts, leaving SAS students and faculty hoping for the day that enough money is secured to finish College Hall renovations and begin work on the Music Building. Although the amount of money that people are willing to donate is largely out of Penn's hands, there are some measures the University should take. Penn must work quickly in finding a new chief fundraising official -- it seems that little progress has been made in the six months since Clark left. In addition, the University must renew its efforts to raise money for SAS projects. College students have watched their peers enjoy the fruits of Penn's fundraising efforts. The University must now work even harder to spread the wealth.

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