How FAMU athletics can benefit from the 'OneFAMU' DSO project

Florida A&M has assembled a steering committee of its Direct Support Organizations to work in concert on various university projects. On Thursday evening, April 16, the committee featuring representatives from the FAMU Foundation, National Alumni Association, Rattler Boosters, and University Advancement met for a two-hour discussion on how they can work together to increase alumni giving. “FAMU has always been its strongest when Rattlers strike together,” FAMU trustee John Crossman told the group.

“That is the spirit of the work. We’re building something worthy of the university we all love. ” One of those subjects was how to improve the athletic program’s support.

Brandi Tatum-Fedrick , Vice President of University Advancement and the FAMU Foundation’s Executive Director, laid out a five-pillar plan that included strengthening the advancement team and donor stewardship, modernizing university technology, and empowering the National Alumni Association with “modern tools” and a “partnership model. ” The fifth and final pillar was creating “One Alliance” to bolster the Rattler Boosters with the resources needed to fulfill the needs of FAMU’s NCAA Division I athletic program . “Pillar five is to ensure that our Rattler Boosters have everything they need to help our athletic programs be successful,” Tatum-Fedrick explained.

“We want to ensure that we’re doing everything in our power to bring them the right and proper type of resources to ensure that we’re growing our booster program as well. ” Tatum-Fedrick shared that FAMU’s alumni giving rate is approximately 5% to 8%, lower than the 10% percent average across other Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Rick Kinsey, a Hall of Fame FAMU donor and the President of the Rattlers in Arms, suggested it could be a case of “donor fatigue” because the same groups of people are being asked for contributions.