Donor requests hindering U. funding

In a struggling economy, University fundraising is a difficult task -- however, it is especially difficult when donors contribute within a limited scope. While the Wharton and Annenberg schools receive large gifts from alumni, many say that Penn's liberal arts are often left by the wayside. "Under this system [of fundraising], the humanities are bound to get marginalized in terms of funding," English Professor Eric Cheyfitz said. According to University President Judith Rodin, the Strategic Plan -- which outlines Penn's goals over the next five years -- ensures that donors do not make specific requests which would restrict the allotment of funds. "We go out to our donors with the plan," Rodin said. "We tell them what our needs are and ask them to support our needs." "Fortunately, we have wonderful donors who are supportive," she added. But School of Arts and Sciences administrators and faculty said that money remains scarce in certain fields. "Donors have every right to attempt to fund the things that they want to see happen," School of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston said, and as a result, "there are areas that are harder to fund than others." According to Preston, there have been instances in which the University has turned down donations because "our wishes and the donor's wishes didn't coincide." But for now, the Strategic Plan is the University's primary means of attracting donors. "The Strategic Plan helps define and prioritize," Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Craig Carnaroli said. "Our president, provost, along with the development team, work to help donors fulfill their philanthropic desires while maintaining the Strategic Plan." The former head of the development team, Virginia Clark, left Penn in July, and a replacement has yet to be found. Cheyfitz said that contributions to the various schools are unequal, possibly due in part to the fact that "there is more money in Wharton and Annenberg graduates than there are going to be in graduates who were English majors." "Looking around Bennett Hall, I think some donor has not found it interesting enough to put money into [its renovation], whereas Huntsman Hall was constructed relatively quickly," Cheyfitz said. "Wharton and Annenberg have the edge [in fundraising] because they are tied to a capitalist endeavor," he added. "The University does not pool its resources and distribute money according to need." Preston said that often the University attempts to convince donors to consider a variety of uses for their money. "We try to talk the donor into broadening the terms of the gift so that future generations will have more flexibility with the funding," he said. Still, Preston added, some causes attract more donors than others. "The School of Arts and Sciences has not had as much success as I'd like in raising money for facilities, while we are very successful in raising money for financial aid and faculty chairs," he said. James Primosch, the undergraduate chairman of the Music Department, said he believes the current fund allocation system helps entice contributors. "It probably helps to get donors excited to give to something that they have a passion about," Primosch said. But if no donors feel passionate about a cause, it might not be addressed, and Cheyfitz related this situation to his department's building. "Bennett Hall is sorely in need of renovation," he said, "but it has not been able to come up with donors at this point." "The University is structured in a feudal way," Cheyfitz added. "And some lords have more power than others."