Eloise Alexis, TSU’s assistant vice president for institutional advancement, presented a report to the Board’s finance committee on Nov. 20 outlining priorities to rebuild trust, inspire giving and drive results.

Alexis described outreach in her first 60 days in the role, re-engagement with alumni and partners during homecoming, and steps taken to resolve a backlog in processing gifts. She said the office reconciled a backlog of more than 800 transactions, which added approximately $136,000 when those gifts were posted, and that total giving between July 1 and the reporting date was about $2.1 million. After backlog reconciliation, Alexis said net receipts were roughly $36,000 higher than at the same point last year.

Alexis introduced Cassandra Griggs, a TSU alumna returning as director of fundraising, and outlined two strategic initiatives: change the alumni giving model (move away from a dues-based alumni association toward recognizing contactable alumni and routing giving through the foundation) and frame a comprehensive fundraising campaign. Alexis described an aspirational multi-year campaign target of $100 million and said early-stage planning work (data, gift processing improvements and feasibility/strengths assessments) is underway.

Trustees asked about timelines, succession planning for staff and how chapters and affinity groups would be treated. Alexis said the team is preparing organizational charts, engaging the foundation board on an MOU for coordination, and will pilot changes beginning with geographic chapters and then address affinity chapters separately. She also pledged to provide trustees talking points and FAQs to answer common donor questions.

Alexis used a phrase trustees repeated in discussion: "Real money is attracted, not pursued," emphasizing that institutional stability, data and improved donor processes help attract transformational gifts.

The presentation closed with trustees encouraging coordinated outreach to alumni and offering to help identify prospects; no formal vote was required.