Last year, Drake University introduced Big Ideas—a campus-wide initiative that called upon faculty, staff, and students to identify transformative ideas that, with support from passionate donors, will help to define the University’s future and positively impact society for generations to come.
Following a successful launch of the initiative, which generated participation from more than 300 faculty, staff, and students who put forth or collaborated on 50 Big Ideas submissions, we are ready to enter the second phase of the project: capturing the imagination of potential donors.
The Big Ideas process
As a reminder, in April, Drake’s Board of Trustees narrowed the 50 Big Ideas submissions to 29 following thoughtful discussion and per the recommendation of the Big Ideas Steering Committee. These 29 ideas were organized and classified into six themes:
- Changemaker Initiative
- Public Democracy
- Digital Proficiency Platform
- Intergenerational Campus
- Sustaining Rural America
- Drake University Center
What happened over the summer
Champions of the advancing ideas and steering committee members were invited to participate in a weeklong workshop in July with 160over90, the University’s branding and marketing consultant. During the workshops, stakeholders provided important feedback, which is currently being used to develop a case statement summarizing the six themes.
What’s next
Later this month, President Martin and University Advancement representatives will use the case statement to seek feedback on the themes from nearly 150 targeted University insiders. The purpose of these conversations is to invite our alumni and friends to offer their advice, counsel, and insight regarding the six themes. Feedback from these discussions will be shared and discussed with the Board of Trustees during their January meeting, during which the Board will ultimately determine which themes will shape the narrative and priorities of our next comprehensive fundraising campaign.
Throughout the academic year, we will share monthly updates with you on the progress of the Big Ideas—including details surrounding each theme and our future fundraising priorities as they are confirmed. Please reach out to me or a member of the Steering Committee with any questions.
I am excited about the possibilities the Big Ideas initiative creates, and sincerely thank the many members of the campus community who have shown great enthusiasm for the initiative. I am honored to work among such talented colleagues who are passionate about advancing the future of Drake.
—John Smith, Vice President, University Advancement