SILS Development leadership transition

Anne Webb, former Assistant Dean of Advancement at the UNC School of Nursing, joined the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) in August as the School’s first Deputy Director of Development. She has been working in close partnership with Director of Development Stephanie Kretz, who will retire in December.

Webb is a Carolina alumna (BA ’94) and holds a Master of Public Administration from UNC-Greensboro. During her time with Nursing, she secured more than $30 Million in private resources for the School and built relationships that will sustain the organization’s future for years to come.

At SILS, she will focus on major gift solicitation, alumni relations, stewardship, board management, special events, and annual giving.

“Anne is an excellent fit for the SILS environment and culture – where we are today and how we will grow,” Dean Gary Marchionini said in an email to the SILS community.

Kretz has led SILS’ development efforts since 2010. Marchionini credits her with establishing and executing a long-term fundraising strategy for SILS that was more comprehensive and effective than any previous effort. She negotiated new roles for SILS Board of Visitors members, helped establish new advisory groups such as the SILS Alumni Inclusion and Diversity (SAID) and Information Trends Advisory Roundtable (ITAR), and secured several major gifts for SILS, including the first named deanship at Carolina.

“Through her energy, enthusiasm, and professionalism, SILS exceeded its Campaign for Carolina goal three years ahead of schedule,” Marchionini said. “Stephanie is a consummate development professional and is leaving an exceptionally strong legacy at SILS. This School will long benefit from the foundational work that she has done over the last 10 years.”

In November, SILS launched a search for an Associate Dean for Development with plans to conduct interviews and select a canidate by January.

SILS welcomes new foundation partnerships

Support from three philanthropic foundations enabled Carolina to launch its new Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (see story pages 20). The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation made a $5 million committment as part of a broader initiative to invest nearly $50 million for research around technology’s impact on democracy. An additional $750,000 contribution from Luminate and $600,000 from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation will expand the center’s impact.

SILS was honored to work with these organizations to advance this important work and looks forward to future collaborations:

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit kf.org.

Luminate

Luminate is a global philanthropic organisation focused on empowering people and institutions to work together to build just and fair societies. We support innovative and courageous organisations and entrepreneurs around the world, and we advocate for the policies and actions that will drive change across four impact areas: Civic Empowerment, Data & Digital Rights, Financial Transparency, and Independent Media. Luminate was established in 2018 by Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, and his wife Pam. For more, visit luminategroup.com.

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is a nonpartisan, private charitable foundation. For more than 50 years, the foundation has supported efforts to advance education for all, preserve the environment, improve lives and livelihoods in developing countries, promote the health and economic well-being of women, support vibrant performing arts, strengthen Bay Area communities, and make the philanthropy sector more effective. For more, visit hewlett.org.

SILS Development Director Stephanie Kretz will retire in December.

Anne Webb joined SILS as the first Deputy Director of Development in August.

SILS reaches 150% of its 2019 #GiveUNC goal

In its first year of participation, the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) blew past its goal of 40 donors during the #GiveUNC event on April 9. More than 60 SILS alumni and friends contributed, unlocking an $8,000 challenge gift to bring the grand total for the day to $22,730.

SILS efforts got a boost from alumni and current students who helped promote #GiveUNC on social media and in person around campus. Thanks to everyone who made this day such a huge success!

The next #GiveUNC event is set for March 31, 2020. Look for more information in the spring.