In this episode, host Chris Jaeger welcomes guest KC Smurthwaite from Athletics Admin who shares insights into his 15+ years in higher education and athletics, covering roles from fundraising to corporate partnerships. They discuss the unique challenges of balancing work life and the creative strategies employed to enhance donor experiences and revenue opportunities. KC emphasizes the importance of customized donor cultivation, the significance of playing the 'long game,' and the need for a game plan akin to playing chess rather than checkers. They delve into innovative approaches such as personalized merchandise for donor engagement and the critical role of understanding each institution's and donor's unique needs. Throughout, the discussion highlights the essence of building genuine relationships and the impact of tailored contributions to the success and experience of student-athletes and the broader university community.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Extensive Experience: KC Smurthwaite shares insights from his 15+ years in higher education and athletics, covering various roles including fundraising and corporate partnerships.
• Work-Life Balance Challenges: The discussion highlights the unique challenges of balancing work and life in this field.
• Creative Donor Strategies: KC discusses creative strategies to enhance donor experiences and revenue opportunities, emphasizing the importance of customized donor cultivation.
• Playing the "Long Game": He stresses the significance of long-term planning, comparing the approach to playing chess rather than checkers.
• Innovative Donor Engagement: Personalized merchandise is one example of innovative strategies for engaging donors and strengthening relationships.
• Understanding Unique Needs: Tailoring strategies to the specific needs of institutions and donors is critical for success.
• Building Genuine Relationships: The conversation underscores the importance of building authentic, meaningful relationships, which ultimately benefit student-athletes and the broader university community.

QUOTES

• "In higher education, you’re playing the long game. It is always relationships. It is making sure you're being a good steward to all the folks across campus. And it takes time."
• "We want to be in there. We want to be known. We want to be in the meetings. Now, if they don’t want us in there, we're not going to. But at the end of the day, we want to augment anything that's being done already within the department."
• "The crazy thing was, all the people I sent that shirt to would wear it to games... you took the mailer and you're wearing my shirt that Isent you, has proof of concept."
• "Chess, not checkers... you have to be thinking moves ahead, and you have to be able to pivot and provide solutions to your clientele, and they all come in different ways, shape or form."

Connect and learn more about KC Smurthwaite.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/smurf/

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