- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Applications and nominations of outstanding students pursuing careers in agriculture will be accepted through May 13, 2024, for UC Agriculture and Natural Resources scholarships and awards.
Students, faculty and colleagues are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to honor academic excellence and provide additional support for undergraduate and graduate students.
Bill and Jane Fischer Vegetation Management Scholarshipis for students enrolled at ANY accredited California university, with preference given to graduate students. The recipient of the $1,000 (multiple awards possible) will be selected from students who are enrolled in fall 2024 pursuing degrees in vegetation management, weed science or agriculture specializations plant science, soils and plant nutrition, agricultural engineering, agricultural botany, plant pathology, plant protection and pest management, or agricultural economics. Students apply directly.
Howard Walton Clark Prize in Plant Breeding and Soil Buildingis for students enrolled at UC Berkeley, UC Davis or UC Riverside. The $5,000 (multiple awards possible) will be awarded to a promising student who will be enrolled as a senior in fall 2024 in the College of Agriculture and/or Natural Resources with demonstrated scholastic achievement and talent for independent research with reference to either plant breeding (leading to new/improved crops and new/improved varieties using appropriate tools) or soil building (leading to improving soil quality related to soil productivity and sustainability as a resource). Nomination by faculty member required.
Knowles A. Ryerson Award in Agricultureis for students enrolled at UC Berkeley and UC Davis. $2,500 (minimum one award for each campus)given to an international undergraduate student who will be enrolled in fall 2024 in the College of Agriculture and/or Natural Resources, in any curriculum, preferably after completion of the junior year. The award is based on high scholarship, outstanding character and promise of leadership. Nomination by faculty member required.
More information about the application process can be found on at https://ucanr.edu/anrscholarships.
For questions, please contact Andrea Ambrose, UC ANR director of advancement, at apambrose@ucanr.edu.
- Author: Emily Delk, Director of Annual Giving and Donor Stewardship
It seems we are always in pursuit of the “shiny new thing.” In the world of fundraising, that often translates to the quest for new donors and new dollars.
While engaging new support is important, prospecting for those gifts alone might cause us to miss the real treasure right in front of us: our returning donors.
Nonprofits with a high donor-retention rate have long-term supporters who come back year after year. Nonprofits with a low donor retention rate need to continually acquire new donors or larger gifts to keep up. Donor retention ensures that nonprofits don't waste the hard effort it took to bring in new donors and that financial support continues to come into the organization.
Thanks to stewarding relationships with our donors and sharing the great impact UC ANR demonstrates in communities across the state, our donor retention rate is at 44.6% over the last five years. This stands up well against the national average of 40-45%.
With a higher retention rate, we raise our reputation among donors. Because more people want to repeat donations to our organization, we show we have an important role to play that people believe in. This type of reputation can naturally increase new donors and the number of retained givers.
Like the most precious nuggets found when panning for gold, returning donors are the true treasure of our organization. By cultivating our relationships with them over time, this can lead to transformational gifts and even stronger ties to our mission. During FY2022-23, our donors provided more than $5.2 million, which is the highest total in the past five years. If we can retain these donors, our future remains bright.
- Author: Emily Delk, Director of Annual Giving
On UC ANR Giving Day, May 18-19, generous donors throughout the state contributed $80,737 for UC ANR research and extension programs across California.
“This show of support demonstrates the impact we are having in our communities and the role that donors play in our success,” said Emily Delk, director of annual giving.
Some donors contributed comments with their donations:
- “Continue the great education and work!” said Ralph B.
- “Thanks to all the UC Master Gardeners for their expertise and precious gift of time to help residents grow their own food and garden more sustainably,” said Janet H.
- “You help with the important things in life,” said Paul C.
Thanks to the generosity of donors who have supported the UC ANR Incentives Fund, an additional $7,500 will be distributed to UC ANR groups qualifying for our special boost incentives. The ANR Incentive Fund encourages donor engagement resulting in increased giving to all ANR programs.
Participating California 4-H programs had every gift matched thanks to an additional $20,720 in matching funds made possible by the California 4-H Foundation.
Donations received on UC ANR Giving Day go directly to the programs, locations or research area selected by the donor. We are grateful to our UC ANR community of friends and neighbors, as well as our staff and volunteers who came together to support our mission and to make “the donor difference,” that improves the lives of all Californians.
Social Media Stars (in no particular order):
California Naturalist
UC IPM
UC Cooperative Extension - Glenn County
Master Food Preservers - Mariposa
MFP - Orange
MFP - Sacramento
Master Gardeners - Statewide
MG - Colusa
MG - Fresno
MG - Nevada
MG - Orange
MG - Placer
MG - San Luis Obispo
MG - San Mateo & San Francisco
MG - Santa Clara
MG - Sonoma
MG - Stanislaus
MG - Ventura
4-H Statewide
4-H Calaveras
4-H Contra Costa
4-H Glenn
4-H Orange
4-H Sacramento
4-H Tuolumne
I am pleased to announce that Greg Gibbs has accepted our offer to be UC ANR's new Executive Director of Development Services. Greg succeeds Lorna Krkich, who retired on April 2.
Many of you likely already know Greg as he has served as the Director of Major Gifts at UC ANR since 2017. Greg brings more than 15 years of fund development expertise, with 11 years at UC Davis before joining UC ANR. Over the past few years, the Development Services team has been generating approximately $3 million to $5 million annually through new endowments, capital campaigns, giving days, and many other new donor relationships; and I am certain that Greg will continue to grow our overall fund-development strategies and capacity.
Greg transitioned into his new position on July 1, 2021, and I'd like to thank the Development Services team for sustaining the department and continuing their outstanding work during the recruitment period. Please join me in congratulating Greg on this well-deserved promotion.
Glenda Humiston
Vice President
- Author: Wendy Powers
Despite the television news (stock market, Rochester, fires, temperatures) the good news continues in UC ANR!
Laura Ann Yee Vollmer started this week as the Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Adviser, based in Half Moon Bay, with programmatic responsibilities in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Francisco Counties. Please welcome Laura!
One of NOS's news stories got picked up by the LA Times in Spanish. Congratulations, Norma! If you haven't heard, Ricardo has a great lineup of events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month. Be sure to take a look.
Scott Brayton also shared good news that I am excited to pass on. A passionate donor has made a very generous personal gift to form a new ANR endowment. The Citrus and Avocado (CA) Endowment will support critical and innovative research and extension activities designed to advance and protect citrus and avocado crops in California. Through this gift, our donor (who wishes to remain anonymous) has provided us with a long-term, sustainable resource that will enable us to better face today's challenges and create tomorrow's solutions. The CA Endowment will be established with an initial gift of $109,000. In addition, our donor has graciously pledged ongoing support to the endowment through a future estate gift. Development Services team member, Scott Brayton, stated that the donor is excited to make this gift to show their appreciation to all of ANR. In the wake of all that has happened this year, I am continually humbled by the support of our donors who stand apart as sources of optimism and inspiration for our work.
The Almond Board of California publically thanked UC ANR and farm advisors for the great work and research conducted in support of the almond industry.
I finished by project for the Master Gardener's auction. I hope there is much interest in the items and I can't wait to get them to Missy! I also completed my 21-day challenge last week, but work is far from finished and never will be when striving for excellence. However, the goal of the challenge is to prepare one for the journey.
Overall, a great start to a short week!