RCCD Foundation Executive Director Co-Leads Workshop on High-Impact Philanthropy at CSUSB
12/02/2024
On November 1, California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) hosted the “Growing Philanthropy in Support of Your College,” an event designed to equip community college leaders and foundation board members with strategies to build sustainable philanthropic support. Among the speakers was Jeffry Kaatz, DMA, executive director of the Riverside Community College District (RCCD) Foundation, who moderated a session on cultivating major gift donors.
Kaatz joined Ray Watts, associate vice president of philanthropic giving at CSUSB; Cathy Paredes, senior vice president and Inland Empire executive at Bank of America; and Monique Osorio, program officer in the philanthropy department of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, for the session “High-Impact Philanthropy: Positioning the College to Engage Major Gift Donors.”
The presentation explored how colleges can position themselves to attract transformative donations by aligning institutional goals with donor ambitions. The panelists emphasized the importance of collaboration among college leadership, advancement teams, and foundation boards in creating compelling opportunities that inspire significant philanthropic investments.
“Partnership events like this are vital for sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration across institutions,” Kaatz said. “By working together and exchanging ideas, we can develop strategies to secure the support needed to help our colleges and, ultimately, change students' lives.”
The workshop, held at the CSUSB Alumni Center, was organized by the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation’s Vice President, Robert Nava, in partnership with the Association of Governing Boards (AGB). In addition to the session led by Kaatz, the workshop featured keynote presentations, including remarks from David Bass, executive director of philanthropic governance at AGB, and Anne Paul King, executive director of the Ventura College Foundation. Roundtable discussions on board recruitment, financial transparency, and strategic advocacy provided attendees with actionable insights tailored to their unique institutional needs.
Kaatz’s participation demonstrated RCCD’s commitment to advancing philanthropy and fostering partnerships that create lasting impacts for students and the broader community.
Published by External Relations & Strategic Communications