New friends may enrich

Enriching the University with friendraising

The university has employed a senior advisor that will encourage businesses, organisations and individuals to donate money to the university.

An unknown person to many at the University of Gothenburg, but her CV includes the Lund University’s campaign A Better World. – Ulrika Nilsson is one the most experienced in Sweden within this field, says Vice-Chancellor Eva Wiberg.

INTERNATIONALISATION and fundraising, these are two items that have been on Eva Wiberg’s wishlist since she was appointed three years ago. – It is not as if fundraising will make or break us, but it means that we will be able to achieve a little bit more and be able to invest in certain areas, she says and points to the fact that basic funding for research and education will hardly increase by any significant amount. Half of all revenue currently comes from external grants. The reason is that the world is changing and fundraising is a phenomenon that we will have to get used to.

Eva Wiberg

She notes that the University of Gothenburg is far behind the major universities in terms of fundraising. – It is really not that strange. This university was established thanks to donations in the 19th century. We would not be where we are today – we would not be sitting in this building at Vasaparken – without benevolent townspeople who wanted to contribute to learning and education in their town.

Eva Wiberg thinks that it is more a matter of friendraising than fundraising. – I have nothing against the term, but it is not the money per se that is important, but the result of good relationships with

– It is really not that strange. This university was establis- hed thanks to donations in the 19th century.

EVA WIBERG the surrounding community that in turn can generate funds. This is an eagerly awaited initiative.

Some argue that fundraising threatens the university’s independence, can you understand that?

– Absolutely. Our primary task is to educate, carry out research and collaborate. As the vice-chancellor, I have the final say and for me, it is about supporting our lecturers and researchers, ensuring that they are able to work under the best possible conditions. The people who believe that we should not be involved in this are perhaps the people who, at the end of the day, will benefit. Ultimately, it may involve extra support for cancer research or that the Faculty of Science is able to purchase an expensive piece of equipment.

Ulrika Nilsson got the job in competition with nine other applicants and is one of the most

skilled fundraisers in Sweden. On February 21, she commenced her employment as senior advisor, in her office at the Grants and Innovation Office.

How did you work together at Lund University?

– Ulrika did great work in Lund while I was pro vice-chancellor, in her role as secretary of the Lund University Charity scholarship fund. I was especially happy about receiving money to fund the digitalisation of the unique Ravensbruck archive in Lund, containing testimonies from concentration camp survivors.

How much money do you estimate she raised for Lund University?

– That is difficult to estimate, but she played a major role in the campaign for a better world, where we managed to raise three billion krona. Some of it, I am sure, was realized after she left, but obviously it takes time to develop such an operation. The advantage is that she was part of the entire journey since the beginning of the 2000s and also has experience of the artistic world, through the Royal Swedish Opera, and having worked with the Royal Family’s Childhood campaign.

But not having any extensive experience of the University of Gothenburg, or the town of Gothenburg, do you think that may be a disadvantage for her?

– No, you can always learn. It does not have to take years. I have experienced the so-called Gothenburg spirit as being inclusive and open. On the contrary, I believe it can be an advantage bringing someone external in who has more than the usual contacts. Ulrika has extensive experience building relationships, both nationally and internationally. We also need someone in-house who

Illustration: MARIA KÄLLSTRÖM can facilitate and coordinate our work with the alumni and with fundraising, which they already do at the School of Business, Law and Economics as well as at the Sahlgrenska Academy.

How come it has taken 2.5 years to put this in place?

– It takes time to secure support, but obviously, it is not great that it has taken this long. That is why it feels particularly good to be able to finalise it now. Before I was appointed vice-chancellor I visited our website to check out the fundraising situation at the University of Gothenburg. It said that if you wanted to make a donation to the university, you could call the switchboard.

In what way is fundraising linked to our alumni operations?

– We need to combine the two. It is about minor gifts as well as major gifts. I think that we could go in for crowdfunding. Even a monthly contribution of a couple of hundred krona from one alumnus could make a difference. I also think that we could be much better at organising alumni reunions, such as “Home-Coming Weeks”. We have an idea about doing something for our alumni next year, when Gothenburg celebrates 400 years and the university 130 years.

Text: Allan Eriksson Photo: Johan Wingborg

Facts

Fundraising is a relatively new phenomenon in Sweden, but Chalmers was a pioneer and started their fundraising operations back in 1996. The Karolinska Institute started theirs in 2005. Since then, both Uppsala University and Lund University have joined in. Consequently, interest in fundraising, donations or sponsorships has increased, and is now well-established at all universities and colleges.