Spring brings the opportunity to visit state P.E.O. conventions and to hear the questions P.E.O.s have about our College's needs and initiatives. Therefore, this report is a series of frequently asked questions and the answers I would give if we had a one-on-one conversation.
What do you mean when you say that P.E.O.s own Cottey College?
The property, the buildings and the equipment that comprise Cottey College are owned by the P.E.O. Sisterhood. The original deeding of the property was a gift from Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard following the Supreme Convention in 1927 in exchange for an agreement that the Sisterhood would raise an endowment no less than $200,000 for the College. The partnership has been in place since that time. The insured value of the College's property is now nearly $70 million. Of course, there is also the inestimable and uninsurable value of the reputation of the College, its programs, its faculty and its alumnae that has also grown immeasurably over the years. This value can be enhanced by P.E.O. support of growth in enrollment and new academic programs.
How does P.E.O. currently support Cottey?
Cottey is supported by a dues allocation of $6 per member. Of that amount, $4 goes into the operating budget of the College and $2 goes into a building fund that is held by the Sisterhood. The dues allocation to the operating budget makes up about 8.4 percent of the annual operating revenue of the College. The pie chart below demonstrates the revenues of the College.
Of course, many of the gifts that support the College come from individual P.E.O.s and a generous portion of the scholarship aid that Cottey provides comes from state, provincial and district P.E.O. chapters. Nevertheless, the College depends heavily on tuition and endowment income.
How is the Defining Moment campaign different from past campaigns?
“A Defining Moment” is a comprehensive campaign. Funds are being raised to build endowments that support essential areas where the College seeks to grow and improve. These are:
- Funds to increase the scholarship endowment: $10 million
- Funds to endow two faculty chairs: $3 million
- Funds to enhance the library endowment: $3 million
- Funds to build a new fine arts instructional building: $9 million
- Undesignated funds to support annual operating and strategic initiatives: $10 million
The campaign is a five-year campaign that began January 2009 and was announced publicly at the International Convention of the P.E.O. Sisterhood in San Diego. Each priority supports a goal of the 2011 strategic plan, “Building a Model for Women's Education.”
When and how will chapters be involved in the campaign?
The short answer to this question is "now." Chapters and P.E.O.s were invited to be involved from the time the campaign was announced. A structured Chapter Challenge will be announced at the International Convention in 2011, but any gift received from a chapter beginning January 2009 counts toward the campaign. The first phase of the campaign is focused on individual philanthropy and the second phase on the chapter challenge; however, I encourage both individuals and chapters to give generously now to the campaign to support our College. Building a habit of philanthropy among P.E.O.s will help every P.E.O. project because all our projects need our support. During the campaign we hope P.E.O.s will embrace the projects and our College as priorities of their giving every year.
