MKU Foundation to join league of global fundraising heavyweights
Mount Kenya University Foundation (MKUF) has set in motion a process that will see it join the league of global fundraising heavyweights.
Partnerships with peers in the United States and consulting firms will bolster fundraising efforts as the Foundation seeks to enrich its resource pool.
The resources will in turn be channeled to various programmes meant to benefit students at Mount Kenya University.
Sustainability, enhancing equity
Speaking to potential partners at the annual ‘The Art & Science of Fundraising’ event in New York, USA, MKUF Executive Director John W. Koigi said sustainability of the existing scholarships programme, and enhancing equity in educational access remain core.
“Africa still lags behind in secondary-to-tertiary education transition. According to OECD, only 6.7% of persons aged 25 to 64 years in Kenya have university education. in Rwanda its only 3%. Comparatively, it’s 45% in Canada, 48% in Israel, and 39% in USA,” the Director Explained.
On the sidelines of the four-day event, the Director met with Michael Cunningham, formerly of the University of Oxford North -American Office.
Mr Cunningham raised $1.7 billion (KES229.4 billion) from various sources in the USA over thirty-year career with Oxford. He pledged to work with MKUF to enable the Foundation establish more networks that will see it achieve its fundraising targets.
US$499 billion
“Americans give $499 billion a year and and 70% (or 286 billion) is given out by individuals,” said Mr Cunningham.
Of this amount, only 14% goes to education, with religion getting the biggest chunk of donations at 31%.
MKUF Director also met Senior Vice President of CCS Fundraising Lara Tilley-Bouez and pledge to forge a formal fundraising partnership in near future. CCS has 18 offices in 35 countries and has worked with over 700 organizations for fundraising campaign goals ranging from US$2 million to US$2 billion.
